Town’s speed limit rises as funds fall

A 20mph zone throughout the Cumbrian town of St Bees is to be replaced by a 30mph speed limit, because the county council cannot afford the traffic-calming measures required under government guidelines (Surveyor magazine, 26/03/2009).

Cumbria County Council has decided to remove the zone, which came into force almost seven years ago, because subsequent guidance – Traffic signs regulations and general directions 2002 – only permitted the imposition of a 20mph zone if it was no more than 50m from a traffic-calming feature.

A council spokesman said: “The cost of retaining a legally-enforceable 20mph zone throughout the village would have involved spending an estimated £150,000 on extra traffic-calming measures, which the committee decided it could not afford.”