20mph zone to be created in Whittlesford after concerns drivers speed along while children walk to school
A 20mph zone will be created in Whittlesford after concerns were shared that “commuters whizz past children walking to school”.
Cambridgeshire County Council approved the scheme and said it hoped the lower speed limits will help deter “high levels of rat-running through the village”.
The project has divided views though, with some people arguing the 20mph zone is “unlikely to make any difference”.
The 20mph limits will be introduced on most residential roads within the built-up part of Whittlesford, except for lengths of the road on the edge of the village.
A statutory consultation conducted by the council received 25 objections and 29 comments of support.
One person was “enthusiastic”, saying: “Every morning I see commuters whizz around the blind bend past my house while children are walking to school, and I am astonished there has not been a tragic accident yet.
“Crossing North Road from the Guildhall to the shop feels like I’m taking my life into my hands every time.
“I have witnessed two accidents at the junction of North Road and the High Street, which would not have happened if people had been going 20mph around a corner with poor or non-existent visibility.”
One supporter believed the 20mph limit would “make a huge difference to the safety of children”.
But others thought it was not needed or would be “unenforceable”.
One person said: “The proposed 20mph speed limit is unlikely to make any difference to the type of driver that doesn’t even stick to the existing speed limits.
“The money would be better spent repairing and resurfacing roads and pavements that are now in such a poor state that they pose a greater risk to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians than speeding cars.”
Another person, who had lived in Whittlesford for more than 50 years, said the roads had “never been dangerous” and branded the 20mph zone as a “stupid idea”.
The responses were considered by the head of parking and traffic management at the county council and Cllr Peter McDonald, who decided it should proceed.
Their decision notice said: “Whittlesford Parish Council has supported a 20mph speed limit from the outset and has been proactive in promoting it.
“The initial survey carried out by the parish council several years ago showed that many villagers favoured a 20mph limit over other options.
“It was acknowledged that there is some local opposition to the 20mph speed limit, but others strongly support it.
“There appears to be increasingly high levels of rat-running through the village at peak times, probably due to congestion on the A505. A 20mph speed limit may go some way to deterring this.”