Speed limit on Cambourne roads to be lowered to 20mph
Speed limits in Cambourne will be reduced with the introduction of a new 20mph zone.
Cambridgeshire County Council has said lowering the speed limit in the town from 30mph would improve road safety and encourage more people to walk or cycle.
The new 20mph speed limit is planned for all built-up roads in the town. The speed limit on Cambourne Road is also due to be lowered from 60mph to 40mph.
Concerns had been raised by some members of the public about the change, with one person claiming the 20mph speed limit would make the roads “more dangerous”.
They said drivers would spend more time checking their speedometer instead of the surrounding environment.
However, council officers said there was no evidence that a driver more regularly checking their speedometer would increase the likelihood of collisions.
Other members of the public argued the change would be “pointless”, arguing that without additional traffic-calming measures to restrict speed there would be “little or no change to average speeds”.
The objections were considered by the county council’s traffic manager and county councillor Mark Howell (Con, Cambourne).
In the decision report published by the authority it said: “It was noted that there were relatively few objections to the proposals, particularly considering the substantial size and impact of the 20mph zone. That suggests that most local people are generally supportive of a 20mph limit in Cambourne.
“Most of Cambourne’s roads are well suited to a 20mph speed limit because the village was designed relatively recently and the width and alignment of most roads tend to naturally moderate traffic speeds. That should ensure reasonable compliance with the 20mph limit.
“Cambridgeshire police have some reservations about non-compliance on certain feeder roads, but they support the overall 20mph strategy, so raised no objection.
“Hence, it was decided that the 20mph speed limit zone should be implemented as published.”
Prior to the adoption of the roads in 2007, Cambourne had the odd distinction of a 19mph speed limit.