Cornwall roads chief gets 'constant' calls for 20mph limits

A 20mph limit started in Tregony last year

Cornish villages and parishes are "constantly" asking for 20mph zones, the person in charge of Cornwall's road policy has said.

Richard Williams-Pears, Cornwall Council's transport portfolio holder, said reducing speed limits from 30mph had been popular with many people.

The zones were trialled in Camelford, Falmouth and Penryn in 2022 and since rolled out to places across Cornwall.

"A lot of people really like it," he said.

Twenty is plenty at Tregony

He told BBC Radio Cornwall: "We don't put a 20mph limit in anywhere people have consistently said they don't want it.

"But there are an awful lot of villages and towns and areas across Cornwall where they feel that the speed limits are just too high and I'm very happy to support people.

"I literally am constantly getting emails and letters and invitations from parish councils all across Cornwall, asking me to do their area next.

"And the feedback from the areas that we've already done has been very, very positive across the board."

In Wales, some roads are reverting to 30mph following a backlash to the Welsh government's 20mph policy.

BBC News has been to three Cornish communities at different stages of the roll-out to see what local people think.

'It does feel safer'

The village of Tregony is known as the 'Gateway to the Roseland Peninsula' - the 20mph signs went up here late last year.

Rebecca Michell works in a cafe on Fore Street, she said: "It does feel safer."

"It is a busy village, people passing through, but I think people are adhering to the new speed limit."

Cafe worker Rebecca Michell supports slower traffic, especially with two schools in the village

Ellis Crompton-Brown lives on Fore Street

Another Tregony resident Ellis Crompton-Brown agrees, saying: "It has reduced the speed on average."

"There are still vehicles going well over the speed limit and it is sometimes a bit difficult to stick to 20mph but, generally speaking, it is really helped the village."

'It is quite worrying'

The 20mph signs have only just gone up in Grampound Road. It is a busy community with a school, shop, cricket club and businesses all along the main road through the village.

Mum Sophie Rowan said she had not seen much of a change in drivers' behaviour.

"All the vehicles, cars, tractors, lorries, they all go well over 20mph, especially at the top of the hill going out the village towards the A30," she said.

"When they come into the village, they are always speeding down really fast."

Sophie Rowan is concerned about the safety of her children

'You can't stop people'

Some areas of Newquay judged to have high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists will be considered for potential 20mph speed limits in the future.

Becka Hancock was walking her dog beside the boating lake in Trenance Gardens - she was happy with the idea of a lower limit.

"If it's safer for kids and dogs and walkers, why not? she said.

Becka Hancock says different roads need different limits

Newquay resident Sophia Cobley is broadly supportive of slowing the traffic, because it is a popular area for families.

"Maybe round here 20mph would be a good option, kids are always running up to roads," she said.

"But you can't stop people going over the speed limit, can you? I've seen people going way over 20mph in 20mph zones."

Sophia Cobley says Trenance Gardens is popular with children, families and dog walkers

The job of enforcing the 20mph limits in the new zones will fall to Devon and Cornwall Police.