NEW 20mph speed limits are being proposed in 15 Somerset communities.
Somerset Council has proposed the new limits for drivers after requests from residents.
Last year, the council said there were a number of requests from across Somerset for either 20mph or 30mph limits amid concerns over safety on roads.
In response, the council invited communities to apply for a 20mph speed limit if they were willing to fund the design and implementation and they are in line with Department for Transport (DfT) criteria.
The proposals are now moving forward and the Traffic Regulation Orders are currently being advertised.
During a 21-day consultation period over the proposed schemes, which closes in the week of April 8, people have the chance to comment on the new plans.
Anyone wishing to discuss the speed limit within their community should contact their town or parish clerk.
The new limits are proposed in:
• Cannington
• Castle Cary and Ansford
• Chard
• Chewton Mendip
• Crowcombe
• Ditcheat and Alhampton
• Ilchester
• Monksilver
• North Petherton
• Othery
• Otterford
• Pilton
• Ruishton
• Trudoxhill
• Wincanton
Lead member for transport and digital, Councillor Richard Wilkins, said: “We are always ready to support communities who wish to fund discretionary works such as the introduction of speed limits where appropriate.
“This initiative is very much driven by the communities themselves – this is not about imposing measures people don’t want.
“In all cases the call for a 20 mph or 30mph limit has come from local people, for very valid safety reasons. We’re really pleased to be able to support this.”
Great idea won’t work, need traffic calming or speed bumps
Speed cameras would be effective, signs will not.
30mph signs on the A361 in Pilton are largely ignored.
Does not make any difference to road safety, only frustrates drivers and makes them angry at yet more ridiculous laws , adds pollution and serves only as another ” cash cow “…!!
In my opinion, 20mph speed limits have caused chaos in Bruton, mainly because as the number of cars have increased, most roads are now effectively single lanes with cars having to pull in and wait for cars coming in the opposite direction to pass. This causes frequent road rage events and the town becomes a car park. And for those like I who run their own business, time is money. Not in fa our with me I’m afraid!
ridiculous … you have huge lorries thundering by…. by no…they don’t have restrictions…like not destroying old roads with their weight…. you come up with ridiculous speed limit that damages cars and is entirely unnecessary IDIOTS…. no more than virtue signalling.
Everyone is lead to believe councils have no money, and yet they have millions to waste on this the same as Wales, fix the roads overgrown hedges etc first before wasting money on this rubbish
Nobody who ignores a 30mph limit will take any notice of a 20mph limit! Speed humps is the only thing which really slows down traffic.