Farron welcomes change that allows South Lakes’ communities to look at 20mph speed limits

Government plans to cut red tape, giving Cumbria County Council more freedom to implement 20mph speed limits, have been welcomed by South Lakeland MP Tim Farron.

In areas like the Castle Estate, Collinfield and Kirkbarrow in Kendal many residents have long called for a 20 mph speed limit. Their local councillors Julie Dawson, Geoff Cook, Clare Feeney-Johnson and Sylvia Emmott have been working with South Lakes MP Tim Farron to ask the government to relax the rules and allow communities to decide if they want a 20 mph zone in their area.

Lib Dem Transport Minister, Norman Baker announced the relaxation as part of wider changes.

The plans also include:

• Expanding the list of specified traffic calming measures allowable in 20 mph zones to include repeater signs and mini-roundabouts. This would allow zones to be introduced with fewer road humps or chicanes where appropriate;

• Allowing local authorities to place signs at the entry and exit of variable speed limits - such as outside schools - on only one side of the road rather than on both sides as is currently the case;

• Allowing councils to act faster in response to the needs of their residents without spending time and money asking for permission from Whitehall.

Tim said: "This is a very welcome step forward. Councils will no longer have to satisfy Whitehall rules before implementing these speed limits. And they will have the power to make decisions on these measures in response to residents' wishes without seeking government approval. Many residential areas in South Lakeland could be made much safer especially for children if 20 mph limits are introduced."