New village 20mph zone agreed after parent said they worry for their child’s safety
A new 20mph zone has been agreed for Houghton and Wyton after a parent said they worry for their child’s safety cycling to school. A number of people came out in support of the plans, sharing the hope that it would deter speeding in the village and improve safety. However, some others argued the 20mph speed limits would be “completely unnecessary” and claimed the village would be ‘ruined’ with “more pointless metal signs”.
Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to introduce the 20mph speed limits in most residential roads within the built-up part of Houghton and Wyton, except for the A1123 where the existing speed limits will remain in place. The decision followed a few consultations that showed support for lower speed limits in the village.
A consultation in 2023 ran by Houghton and Wyton Parish Council found that 90 per cent of respondents supported the introduction of a 20mph zone. A subsequent statutory consultation conducted by the county council had 27 responses, 22 showing support for the 20mph speed limits and four raising objections.
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One parent who responded to the county council consultation to voice their support explained that they worried about their child’s safety when they went to school. They said: “I support the move to a 20mph speed limit through Houghton and Wyton villages. I have two young daughters, one of whom attends the village school.
“She rides on her bike and at times the speed of traffic makes me worry for her safety. This is particularly noticeable when cars are approaching the village at the Wyton end, where they are going from a large busy road at 40mph and often not slowing down sufficiently.”
Another person who said they supported the 20mph speed limits claimed that the amount of speeding drivers they see near their home was “ridiculous”. One supporter added that they thought the proposals to reduce the speed limit was a “sensible plan”. Another person said: “As a resident, a cyclist and pedestrian in the village, I believe the 20mph limit to be realistic and safe.
“There’s a lot of traffic at certain times of day and during the summer months when the tourist season is in full swing. On several occasions I’ve seen careless and inconsiderate driving, often at speeds which have been inconsistent with the road circumstances i.e. visibility reduced by parked cars, bad road surfaces like potholes and sometimes just the plain impatience demonstrated by such drivers if they’re confronted with any kind of delay.”
However, some of the people objecting to the change questioned if the lower speed limits would be enforced and whether they were even needed. One person said they believed the 20mph speed limits would cause more conflict on the roads. They said: “20mph increases the conflict between drivers particularly when some will drive far below 20mph. This greater conflict creates greater hazard to road users and pedestrians through increased overtaking etc, than the accepted status quo.”
Another objector said: “This is completely unnecessary. There are very few roads in the village upon which you can achieve a speed above 20mph as things stand. Has anyone ever tried to drive past west end cottages at 30mph? It’s virtually impossible. I do not want the aesthetics of our wonderful village ruined with more huge metal signs everywhere. If people won’t adhere to a 30mph limit they won’t adhere to a 20mph limit. Stop ruining the village with more pointless metal signs.”
The responses to the consultation were considered by the county council before a decision was issued stating that the 20mph zone would be introduced. The report said: “It is noted that there is a good level of support for a 20mph speed limit from local people, but it is also acknowledged that there is some opposition.
“It is felt that most roads naturally limit traffic speeds to around 20mph due to their width and alignment, together with on-street parking. Hence, there should be a good level of compliance on most roads. The 20mph speed limit will be particularly beneficial in reducing anxiety for vulnerable road users, such as young people and elderly pedestrians. Overall, it was decided that the 20mph speed limit should be implemented, primarily in the interests of road safety.”