Girton 20mph zone to be extended despite concerns

A 20mph zone in Girton will be extended, despite concerns about whether drivers will keep to lower speed limits.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary offered overall support for the plan to extend the 20mph zone, but raised concerns about compliance along Girton Road without extra measures to make drivers slow down.

Cambridgeshire County Council said extra measures could be considered if compliance with the 20mph speed limit was poor.

The existing 20mph zone in the north of Girton was introduced in 2021. The zone will now be extended to cover most streets in the south of the village, from Girton Road’s junction with Weavers Field, to Girton Road’s junction with Huntingdon Road.

The scheme is part of a wider council programme to introduce more 20mph speed limits across Cambridgeshire.

The extension to the 20mph zone in Girton was requested by Girton Parish Council.

A statutory consultation only received three responses from members of the public, one in objection and two in support. The objector raised concerns about people keeping to the lower speed limit.

They said: “Creation of such zones is an improper and wasteful use of money and creates risk for road users, as drivers breaking the limit perform dangerous overtakes on the minority of drivers who stick to it.”

Those in support of the extended 20mph zone said the village had felt safer since the existing 20mph speed limits were introduced back in 2021.

One supporter said: “Cycling and walking in Girton has been much better since the original 20mph zone was introduced.

“This proposal will extend the benefits of the existing 20mph zone throughout the village and make it a much safer and more attractive route for me and my family to cycle to Cambridge and work. Thank you for bringing it forward.”

The feedback was considered by the council’s head of parking and traffic management, alongside Cllr Edna Murphy, before the decision was made to implement the 20mph speed limits in the south of Girton as proposed.

The decision report said: “The proposed 20mph speed limit will ensure consistency of speed limits by implementing a 20mph speed limit south of where Girton Road crosses the A14 and will result in most of Girton Parish being covered by a 20mph speed limit.

“The majority of roads within the proposed 20mph speed limit are residential roads and are well-suited to a 20mph speed limit because of their width and alignment and the presence of parked vehicles which help to naturally moderate traffic speeds.

“Comments regarding compliance to the proposed 20mph speed limit on Girton Road were acknowledged, however it was noted that this road supports a high number of pedestrian and cycle movements.”