Opinions divided on Lavenham 20mph speed limit plan

The proposed plans will introduce lower speed limits to certain areas of Lavenham

A public meeting has been held in Lavenham to discuss the introduction of a 20mph (32km/h) speed limit zone.

Robert Lindsay, a Green Party member on Suffolk County Council, successfully campaigned for a 20mph limit in Bildeston.

He said he was approached by Lavenham Parish Council to try and get a 20mph limit there was well.

But some residents claim the proposal was an "over the top" reaction that would not be properly enforced.

Mr Lindsay said the county council highways team had approved the idea in principle, but negotiations were still ongoing to finalise which roads in the village would be included in the scheme.

John Heeks said people would ignore the limit unless it was enforced

John Heeks, who runs a convenience store in Lavenham, said: "I think it's a little bit over the top because the average speed through the village is not that high.

"The amount of traffic and parking tends to keep the speed down. It might slow the traffic down at night.

"The roads are in very poor condition," he said. "You can't drive quickly up them because of the surface conditions.

"So I think it's a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It's an over the top restriction."

John Woodley is in favour of the 20mph restriction.

John Woodley and Bernadette Ashcroft live in the village.

Mr Woodley said: "I take my dog for a walk at nine o'clock every night. But the speed of the cars going up and down the high street definitely increases.

"So I would say yes to a 20mph zone".

Bernadette Ashcroft enforcement would be a key issue

Mrs Ashcroft said a key issue in whether the proposal worked was how it would be enforced.

"It's always good to have a lower speed limit," she said. "The enforcement is a worry. Are we going to have speed cameras and police? Or is it just going to be a rule that good people will pay attention to?"

Plans about which parts of the village will be included are still to be decided.

A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: "We have received an application for a 20mph scheme in Lavenham and will be liaising with the county councillor and parish council to consider the proposal."

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