Several roads in South Cumbria will have their speed limits lowered.
Members of South Lakeland locality board for Westmorland and Furness Council approved measures to lower the speed limit to 20mph on the roads in Ulverston and Old Hutton.
In Ulverston the order is set to be implemented on Fountain Street, Daltongate, King Street, Queen Street, County Square Roundabout, Market Place, New Market Street, Victoria Road, Benson Road, Cavendish Street, New Market Back Street, Theatre Street, Boltons Place, Cross Street, Brewery Street and Brogden Street.
Other roads the order is set to be implemented include Little Union Street, Market Street, Brogden Street, The Weint, Union Place, Union Street, Well Street, Deerfield, Fallowfield Avenue and Machell Close.
The report prepared for the meeting said: “Introduction of 20mph have shown to make streets safer by reducing speeds and enabling an equitable use of the road space for all users, encourage residents to walk and cycle by reducing speeds, bring health benefits both physical and mental and reduce noise pollution by amending the way vehicles accelerate/ decelerate.”
In Old Hutton the proposed 20mph speed limit will go from a point 20m northwest of the B6254 junction with The Park, to 141m east from its junction with St Johns View.
In consultation documents, Old Hutton Primary School said it was delighted the speed limit change was at this stage and it fully supported the proposal.
A representation was made in support of the proposed speed limit at Old Hutton, which also requested the implementation of parking restrictions at the blind bend at St John’s View.
In a report prepared for the meeting, the council said: “It is not possible to implement parking restrictions within this order as this is for speed limit changes.”
This request has been noted for consideration of a future order for parking restrictions, the report adds.
In a consultation period on the plans, the council received 24 comments in support with requests to further extend the scheme.
The respondents stated they would like to see Southergate, Town Bank Road and the streets leading off the B5281 included in the scheme as cars coming in and out of Ulverston on the B5281 are being driven at speeds considerably over the limit.
A report prepared for this meeting states the council has a 20mph policy which opened to applications from parish and town councils. Introduction of further 20mph within Ulverston will be considered under this process for introduction in a future phase.
It adds: “It is not possible to make changes within these proposals which are more onerous at the statutory consultation and advertisement stage.”
In consultation documents, waste and environmental services for the council say they support the scheme.
“The changes will be beneficial towards keeping the councils’ operatives safe whilst carrying out collections of waste and recycling on the streets and roads listed within the proposed order.”
However, the proposals received one objection which stated Ulverston town centre was a natural speed reduction area due to its shape and size.
The proposed 20mph scheme in Ulverston is to be funded through a private work agreement with Ulverston Town Council while the proposed 20mph scheme in Old Hutton will cost £10,440.
