Statutory consultation has opened on 24 community-backed 20mph speed limits across Westmorland and Furness.
All 24 areas initially proposed in the second phase of schemes were approved at Eden, Furness and South Lakeland locality boards last month because communities supported the proposals during the initial consultation held in the summer. They are now going to statutory consultation before the final decision is made to determine implementation in early 2026.
The statutory consultation for the Furness and Eden Traffic Regulation Orders opened today (Friday 14 November) and the South Lakeland statutory consultation will open on Thursday 20 November. All will run for 21 days.
Read more information and take part in the consultation.
Cllr Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said: "A lot of work has gone into getting these proposals to this stage, and we are especially grateful to the 5,200 people who responded to the engagement and shaped these schemes so they reflect local need.
"This statutory consultation is a necessary step and is a further opportunity for residents to add their views."
Following an extensive consultation process, more than 5,200 residents took part by responding and shaped the 20mph schemes which were designed based on clear Department for Transport guidance, the schemes will create safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. They focus on areas in built up towns and villages with a current maximum speed limit of 40mph or less.
Twenty schemes are progressing as proposed and four with amendments based on community feedback.
The outcome was as follows:
Furness
All eight of the proposed 20mph schemes are progressing in the Furness area.
With strong support from residents, the schemes for Cambridge Primary School, Barrow; Cows Tarn Lane, Walney; Dane Ghyll Primary School, Barrow; Newbarns Primary School, Barrow; Ramsden Infant School, Barrow; and Walney School and Sandy Gap Lane were approved with no changes.
Amendments to 20mph scheme designs at St Paul’s Junior School and Victoria Infant and Nursery School and Victoria Junior School, in Barrow have joined the two schemes together to ensure they best meet community needs raised in the consultation.
Eden
The proposed schemes for Clifton, Gamblesby, Glassonby, Great Asby, Greystoke, Sockbridge & Tirril and Stainton received significant community backing are moving ahead as planned.
In Penrith, a total of 9,294 individual notifications resulted in a total of 764 responses, 730 of those from respondents who registered a postcode within Penrith itself.
Forty six per cent were in support, 14 per cent in support with amendments and 40 per cent against.
Analysis of the data indicated that, whilst other areas of Penrith were supportive overall of the proposals, the data for Castletown was inconclusive. This led to a recommendation that Skirsgill Lane be added to the scheme and the Castletown proposals omitted and resubmitted and reconsulted on separately as part of next year's proposals.
South Lakeland
The proposed schemes for Cartmel; Greenodd and Penny Bridge; Heversham; Ings; Levens; Milnthorpe and Satterthwaite received significant community backing and will move ahead as planned.
The Kendal scheme will also move ahead as planned. A total of 15,712 properties received individual notification of the consultation; a total of 2,705 responses were received. Forty per cent of respondents supported the proposal, 16 per cent supported it with amendments and 44 per cent were against.
Statutory consultation and advertisement of the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO), the legal process required to change speed limits, will soon start. This will give residents a final opportunity to share their views on the detailed final designs before any scheme is rolled out.
Requests for the limits came through a new streamlined route launched by Westmorland and Furness Council in December 2023 which made it easier and quicker for communities to submit applications for 20mph. The new approach accelerated the application process by several months, leading to 49 requests covering 79 proposed schemes across the area.
More details on the Eden schemes.
More details on the Furness schemes.
More details on the South Lakeland schemes.
More information on 20mph schemes in Westmorland and Furness.