Hundreds back petition calling for council to reconsider 20mph zones in Ely

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the county council to reconsider the 20mph zones in Ely. The city-wide scheme was approved at the end of last year.

The project hopes to benefit the city by improving road safety and reducing pollution. Work to install the changes began in February and is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund.

Ely is one of many areas in the county where new 20mph zones have been proposed or introduced. The speed limit was recently given the green light for parts of Huntingdon and has been rolled out to St Neots, Godmanchester and Duxford among other places.

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The petition, signed by 622 people so far, was set up by East Cambridgeshire District Council leader Anna Bailey in April 2024. It said that many people were unaware of the proposal and called for the council to reconsider the locations for the speed limit.

It read: "We, the undersigned, support 20mph speed limits in places such as outside schools and in high pedestrian areas, where the evidence shows it is needed and will improve road safety.

"We do not support the use of blanket 20mph zones like that imposed in Ely in March 2024, where the consultation was poorly executed, and where thousands of people that stood to be affected were unaware of the proposal and wide community support was not demonstrated.

"We call on Cambridgeshire County Council to reconsider the locations for 20mph speed limits in Ely, taking into account new Government guidance and to properly evidence its proposals. This should also take into consideration whether and what type of on road engineering solutions are required in locations proposed for 20mph speed limits to secure maximum possible compliance."

During the consultation, a total of 195 responses were received. 122 people were in support of the proposals, while 65 objected and eight were neutral.

At the time, Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Speed kills. Studies have shown even a 1mph drop in speed reduces collisions by six per cent. Reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph can cut pollution by 30 per cent and reduce the chance of a severe or fatal injury in the event of a collision by a staggering 60 per cent.

"This is why it’s important we continue to create more 20mph areas. I’m pleased to hear 20mph will soon be rolled out in Ely and see the residents benefitting from cleaner air and safer travel, both of which are a priority for the council."

The petition is available to view on the Cambridgeshire County Council website. If you would like to view or sign, you can click here.

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