Huntingdon to have 20mph zone introduced this summer

The new speed limit will be in place from summer

A 20mph speed limit has been approved to reduce pollution and improve road safety.

A speed limit zone will be introduced in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, during the summer but it will be smaller than originally proposed.

The decision was made in response to Cambridgeshire County Council's call for 20mph schemes.

Most residential streets will become 20mph, main through routes and industrial roads will not change.

Huntingdon County Councillors reviewed consultation feedback and agreed on a two-phase approach at a meeting in March.

The first phase will see 20mph zones introduced in West and South Huntingdon from the summer.

Residential areas of North Huntingdon and Hartford could be introduced to 20mph zones at a later date, after further consultation.

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Alex Beckett, a councillor and 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 6%.

"Reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph can cut pollution by 30% and reduce the chance of a severe or fatal injury in the event of a collision by a staggering 60%.

"In areas where lower speed limits are introduced, people also become more confident to go out walking and cycling, or use other forms of non-motorised transport."

He added that reduced speed limits could help residents benefit from safer travel, cleaner air and it "will help create a greener Cambridgeshire for everyone".

It is being funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, provided via the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Tom Sanderson, a councillor for Huntingdon West at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Once the new 20mph zones have been introduced later this year, I look forward to revisiting whether they should be expanded to include other residential areas of Huntingdon."

The consultation period for a 20mph speed limit on residential roads began on 17 January.

A decision was made by Huntingdon councillors at a delegated decision meeting on 18 March.