A consultation has launched for the proposal of a 20mph speed limit for the whole of Ely. 

The consultation started on July 31. It was due to close on August 24 but following local feedback and the summer holidays, the period has been extended until September 21.

Following a unanimous request by the City of Ely Council, Lib Dem county councillors Piers Coutts (Ely South) and Alison Whelan (Ely North) have been working with officers at the county council's highways department to design a draft 20mph scheme 

Funding for the scheme has been identified, and if it meets general approval, it will be in place within the next seven months. 

Statutory documents are available to view online via Cambridgeshire County Council’s website: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/traffic-regulation-orders/permanent-traffic-regulation-orders. 

Both councillors are looking forward to hearing residents’ views on the proposed plans. 

Cllr Coutts said: “We are really excited about the benefits this proposal could bring to the lives of everyone within the city.  

“The campaign group www.20splenty.org has collected a wealth of information from a variety of sources on the benefits in terms of improved road safety and reduced pollution.  

“To give just one example, in February this year Transport for London (TfL) estimated that since 20mph limits were introduced in 2020, collisions on those streets have fallen by 25 per cent and collisions involving pedestrians have been reduced by 63 per cent.” 

20's Plenty for Us is a 'not for profit' organisation with over 600 local groups campaigning to make cities, towns and villages around the world a better place to be.

The group campaigns for a speed limit of 20mph to be normal on residential streets and in towns and village centres, unless full consideration of the needs of vulnerable road users allows a higher limit on particular streets.

Founded by Rod King MBE, 20's Plenty believes that communities can decide that "20's plenty where people live".

The group has shared that 28 million people in the UK live in places where 20mph is or will be the urban/village norm.

On there website, you can view a list of where in the country has already implemented 20mph zones - Norwich in Norfolk is one of them.

Cllr Coutts is now urging residents to respond to the consultation. 

“The statutory process only requests objections, but all types of comment are in fact welcome,” he said. 

“It has been encouraging how much positive feedback we have already received about the proposals which featured in our election leaflets.” 

Comments can be made: 

  • Online using the consultation.appyway.com  portal 
  • By email at policyandregulation@cambridgeshire.gov.uk 
  • By post at Cambridgeshire Highways, Stanton Way, Stukeley Meadows Industrial Estate, Huntingdon, PE29 6PY 
  • By post at Policy and Regulation, Unit 1a, Vantage House, Vantage Park, 9 Washingley Rd, Huntingdon PE29 6SR