Councillors have approved lowering the speed limit on several roads on Walney Island as part of plans to create a safe environment for walking and cycling.
Members of the Furness locality board for Westmorland and Furness Council approved plans to lower the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on a number of roads in North Walney as part of proposals for an active travel scheme.
The order will be implemented on Trent Vale, Thames Road, Tyne Road, Mersey Road, Tees Gardens, Tweed Rise, Medway Road, Southport Drive and Maryport Avenue.
A report prepared for the board meeting says: “To facilitate a 0.31km section of ‘quiet street’ approach on Trent Vale the existing restricted road with a speed limit of 30mph, by virtue of the presence of a system of street lighting, is proposed to be reduced to 20mph.
“The aim is slowing traffic where there is likely to be cyclists on the road.
“The order is proposed to include the connecting roads in introducing a reduced speed limit from the current restricted road 30mph to 20mph to slow traffic within this whole residential area.”
The cost of installing the traffic signs and road markings for the new speed restrictions will be approximately £6,000, which will be funded by the North Walney Cycling and Walking Scheme award from Active Travel England, council documents state.
The proposed active travel scheme will connect Earnse Bay and the Promenade on North Walney.
A report prepared for the Furness locality board in October stated: “The scheme will provide a range of infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and cyclists over a 2.32 km distance between Earnse Bay and the Promenade on North Walney.
“This will include the delivery of a segregated bi-directional cycle track for the full length (located in the existing footway space) of West Shore Road, with improvements to side roads and existing crossings and the creation of a new segregated priority pedestrian and cycling crossing on Mill Lane.
“The route then continues along Trent Vale as a quiet street approach, alongside the proposed introduction of a 20mph residential zone, before going through Vickerstown Park to link back to the Promenade.
“The scheme includes new street furniture, lighting, public realm and seating. An existing crossing on the Promenade will be upgraded to create a toucan crossing and enhanced connections to and from Jubilee Bridge.”
Proposals to lower the speed limit underwent a 21-day consultation period and received two responses.
One respondent said: “There is no need for traffic to travel at the current maximum speed limit of 30mph until they join the main road.
“Reducing the speed limit to 20mph will make it safer for all pedestrians and cyclists and in the event of a collision, make it far more unlikely that there would be a fatality.”
However, one resident labelled the proposals a ‘waste of money’ and called on the council to spend the money resurfacing roads in the area.
According to council documents this objection ‘should not be upheld’ as the funding for this project is not taking away from existing revenue budgets for maintenance and is additional funding specifically for this cycling project.
“The funding can only be used for this improvement for North Walney”, documents add.
