A 20mph speed limit will remain in Ely and not reviewed for two years, Cambridgeshire County Council has told Cllr Anna Bailey, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council. Cllr Bailey organised a petition – signed by 2,775 people – calling for an earlier review claiming implementation of the 20mph zone did not have majority support and consultation was not “impartially and properly carried out”.
She had claimed the level of support for a review was “was nearly 23 times the number of people that supported the idea of the blanket 20mph zone in the original consultation.
“What has incensed people about this whole affair, more than anything, is the way in which it was done.”
But Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee of the county council, said the scheme was introduced in line with procedures set out in the constitution.
“I can confirm that the correct process as laid out in our constitution has been followed and the scheme has now been implemented,” he told her.
“Therefore, it would not be appropriate to rerun the consultation at this point.”
As reported by CambsNews previously, a 20mph scheme for Ely was put forward by local councillors “in response to the county council’s call for 20mph schemes”. Funding came from the Transforming Cities Fund.
Consultation for the proposal of a 20mph speed limit for the whole of Ely started in July 2023 and, following an extension, the consultation period closed on 21 September.
A county council spokesperson said: “The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) procedure is a statutory consultation process, and 195 responses were received – 65 objected to the proposals, 122 were in support and eight were neutral.
“There was little support for the installation of speed cushions.”
Cllr Piers Coutts, local councillor for Ely South at Cambridgeshire County Council, said both he and Cllr Alison Whelan heard from many residents about the plans were excited about the changes they would bring to the lives of everyone in the city.
“It is clear from a variety of sources on the benefits in terms of improved road safety and reduced pollution,” he said.
CambsNews reported in August 2023 a claim by Liberal Democrats that they were banned from handing out leaflets on Ely Market – run by East Cambridgeshire Council’s trading arm – explaining a new 20mph speed limit proposed for the city.
It was due to close on 24th August, but following local feedback and the summer holidays, City of Ely Council extended the consultation period until 21st September 2023.
Cllr Beckett explained to Cllr Bailey that large proportion of the roads in Ely covered by the scheme “are estate type, unclassified routes in low-speed, traffic calmed areas.
“Other areas along the more major routes within the city, such as Lynn Road or Downham Road, have been significantly pedestrianised with shared use cycle routes, signalised crossing, zebra crossings, traffic calming, a significant number of junctions and/or flashing signs.
“In other areas of the city there are also substantial amounts of on-street parking.”
He added: “These factors all contribute to slower vehicle speeds and the roads included within the Ely 20mph zone are popular walking, cycling and wheeling routes in and around the city.”
Cllr Beckett also explained that schools, care homes, GP surgeries, places of worship and other community amenities were located along these routes and people (often vulnerable) need to visit daily.
“Lower speeds will lead to people feeling safer and more confident to walk or cycle for these local trips instead of using their vehicles which will deliver health, community and environmental benefits by reducing vehicle emissions within the city,” he said.
Cllr Bailey remains unimpressed, describing it an “arrogant and dismissive response” by Cllr Beckett.
“In a nutshell Cllr Beckett says: “We followed the correct process, we will review the impacts in 24 months’ time,” she says
“A win of sorts I suppose. But Cllr Beckett’s response fails to deal with the reasonable and proportionate requests of the signatories to the petition, and it fails to set out how the review will be undertaken.
“The Liberal Democrats are leading the county council, and it was them that promoted the idea of 20mph zones, but they can’t seem to understand what the problem is – ‘but we put it in our leaflets’ they say.
“Official consultation on changes to the highway is not carried out by political parties and cannot be a race to see who can get most people to back their side of the debate.
“Public consultation has to be impartially and properly carried out and should be a genuine exercise in garnering the views of local residents to help shape proposals.
“A change of this magnitude deserved some effort by the county council in promoting it, surely?”
She added: “Sadly, the consultation was incredibly poorly promoted by the county council, and it was in no way a genuine attempt to get the views of local residents and to shape the proposals based on the feedback.”
