Speed Limit Review Update: Four More Local Rural Limits Cut to Boost Safety

The Speed Limit Review I launched in 2011 in response to residents' concerns about speeding traffic in their neighbourhoods saw a large number of speed limits in residential areas across the Borough reduced in direct response to local requests.

The first tranche of speed limit changes under the review saw every request from rural parish councils for action to reduce a particular speed limit approved, following an assessment of the safety issues and feasibility. That there were so many areas where the assessments supported a reduction in the local speed limit indicated just how sorely needed this campaign is, and our commitment to working with parish councils and making our roads safe for all road and footpath users continues.

With speeding traffic and its impact on local neighbourhoods still a major concern for many residents at locations across the Borough, we are reducing limits immediately on four more roads, with local consultation beginning on another four. Other roads are likely to follow in the future, where there is genuine local concern and where limits can appropriately be reduced.

Locations where speed limits are being reduced immediately:

• West End, Little Staughton (40mph buffer zone)
• Milton Road, Clapham (extension to 30mph limit)
• Bedford Road, Stagsden (extension to 30mph limit)
• Colesden Road, Wilden (extension to 30mph limit)

Location where consultation is underway to reduce speed limits

• North End, Stagsden (extension to 30mph limit)
• Lower Farm Road, Bromham (extension to 30mph limit)
• B660 Kimbolton Road, Wilden (introduction of 50mph limit)
• Cople to Cardington (extension to 40mph limit)

Locations where engineering measures are being implemented to reinforce existing speed limits

• Northill Road, Cople
• Hall End Road, Wootton

When I speak to local residents one of the most common causes of concern is still speeding, particularly in rural and residential areas. That is why we first launched the Mayor's Speed Limit Review. As I have stressed throughout, this is an ongoing commitment to helping make our roads and our communities safer. We will continue to talk to residents around the Borough and to local parish councils in order to make sure effective action is taking place against this scourge.

Other action we are taking to tackle speeding traffic includes our introduction of new average speed cameras. Enforcement of speeding is the responsibility of the police, but we are bringing in average speed cameras to support the enforcement effort in response to residents' requests for action to ensure that effective enforcement can take place across a wider area, focusing in particular on residential areas where communities have real concerns over safety.