St Ives and Fulbourn to get 20mph schemes

The plans would extend 20mph zones in St Ives beyond areas like The Broadway

Traffic planners have voted to introduce more 20mph speed limits despite opposition in a county where blanket speed limits have "vexed" some people.

Cambridgeshire County Council voted to approve new speed restrictions in Fulbourn, near Cambridge, and much of St Ives.

Councillors also considered a petition to reconsider a 20mph zone covering most of Ely which had received nearly 2,800 signatures.

Alex Beckett, chairman of the highways and transport committee, said: "Schemes like these are a proven way to improve road safety and reduce pollution."

The council has been inviting communities to apply for funding to introduce 20mph zones.

It published a list of 91 schemes being prioritised for funding at an estimated cost of £1.4m.

They are mostly in villages, including Bottisham, Swavesey, Balsham, Longstanton and Wimblington, and the money would go towards infrastructure such as signs, speed humps and bollards.

Mr Beckett said the process had been "popular and oversubscribed".

The council said 20mph schemes were "proven" to improve road safety and pollution

The new restrictions in St Ives would apply to most roads in the town south of the A1123, expanding the existing 20mph speed limit on The Broadway and market place.

And 20mph would apply to all residential roads in Fulbourn with a 40mph "buffer zone" for those approaching the village.

The meeting heard a petition to reconsider a city-wide 20mph zone for Ely, introduced earlier this year, had received 2,779 signatures.

Anna Bailey, the Conservative leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said people were "vexed" about "not being asked for their views" on the scheme.

She said it was "completely wrong" that the public were not more involved in the decision, adding "people are not complying".

The council will issue a response to the petition in the coming days.