A 20mph zone is set to be introduced in a small village where people say drivers speed through at over 90mph.

Cambridgeshire County Council has agreed to introduce 20mph speed limits in most residential roads in Wicken, with 40mph speed limits retained or introduced on the edge of the village to create a buffer.

Many people voiced their support for the plans, raising concerns about the speeds some drivers “fly” into the village at.

However, others said they believed the current speed limits should stay and raised concerns about more congestion and whether the lower speed limits would be adhered to.

The county council acknowledged there were mixed views on the Wicken 20mph zone.

A statutory consultation saw 21 people raise objections to the proposed 20mph speed limits, with 39 people sharing support for the plans.

One person said some drivers speed through the village at over 70mph. Another person added that the highest speed recorded through the speedwatch signs was 93mph.

A supporter of the 20mph zone said: “The speed people fly into this village is ridiculous, we take and pick up our children from the bus stop each day and genuinely fear for their safety.

“Speed bumps such as the ones on Mildenhall Road, Fordham are a great example of how to calm speed.

“I plead that something is done before a serious accident occurs, a pedestrian more likely than a car.”

Another person who shared support for the 20mph speed limits said they wished the change had been made sooner.

They said: “I completely support changing the speed limit to 20mph. I feel the roads in Wicken have become dangerous due to excessive speeding of cars, lorries and tractors.”

However, some of those in objection to the 20mph zone raised concerns about whether the new speed limits would be adhered to by drivers.

One person said: “If you could enforce 20mph then you could enforce 30mph and leave things as they are, but you can’t, so why bother.

“Better to spend the money on fixing potholes. Those that drive excessively through the village will not change their behaviour.”

Concerns were also shared that reducing the speed limits will create more congestion in the village.

One objector said: “Wicken village is a thoroughfare for people travelling east or west to nearby villages and towns.

“Lowering the speed limit slows down this traffic creating greater congestion in Wicken, which means that vehicles spend more time in the village and potentially polluting more emissions into the village.”

The feedback was considered by the head of parking and traffic management at the county council and Councillor Bill Hunt, who ultimately agreed that the 20mph zone should be introduced.

An amendment was made to the extent of the 20mph speed limit in Church Road.

The decision notice said: “It was noted that there was a good level of support for a 20mph speed limit from local people, whilst also acknowledging that there was some opposition.

“There is a local desire to reduce the speed and volume of traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, travelling through the village on the A1123, and it is felt that measures such as a 20mph limit will help.

“It was accepted that the 20mph speed limit alone will not address all of the local concerns and that further speed-reducing measures might well need to be considered.

“An incremental approach to speed management will be required to achieve the desired effect, but the introduction of a 20mph speed limit is an important first step.”