Lake District residents oppose 20mph speed limit in key areas

Members of the public have refused the implementation of a 20mph speed limit in various areas of the Lake District.

A consultation is taking place across Westmorland and Furness Council for the introduction of the speed limits in numerous areas as part of the former South Lakeland, Barrow borough and Eden district council areas.

For South Lakeland, the council considered 20mph zones in 10 areas: Burneside, Elterwater, Grasmere, High Carley and Pennington, Lowick Green, Outgate, Rydal, Troutbeck, Ulverston and Windermere.

Now, after public consultation, residents have spoken on whether or not they would like to see the limit introduced in their areas.

20mph zones in Elterwater, Rydal, Troutbeck and Windermere were all refused by residents.

For Elterwater, out of 71 properties approached, 14 responses were received, a 20 per cent response rate. Five were in support, one was in support with amendments, but eight were against the proposal.

Regarding proposals for Rydal, 59 properties were approached, with 32 responding. 15 people supported the proposals but 17 were against.

For Troutbeck, 125 properties received notification but only eight got back, a six per cent response rate. Two were in support, a further two were in support with amendments and four were against.

In Windermere, 3,142 properties were approached with 276 responses received, a nine per cent response rate.

102 people were in support, 35 were in support with amendments, but 139 were against.

But the remaining six will be progressed to statutory consultation.

High Carley and Pennington, Lowick Green and Outgate will all be progressed with no amendments.

For High Carley and Pennington, 90 properties were consulted, with 12 responses received – a 13 per cent response rate.

Eight people approved, two supported it with amendments and two were against

At Lowick Green, 84 properties were consulted and 55 responded, a 65 per cent response rate.

39 were in support, 12 were in support with amendments while four were against.

For the Outgate scheme, 33 properties were consulted, with 19 responses.

12 were in support, another person was in support with amendments and six were against.

The final three scheme were progressed but with amendments.

At Burneside, requests to extend a 30mph limit along Hollins Lane were considered ‘feasible’ by officers, although further requests to extend the 20mph limit on the same road were seen as being ‘likely to reduce compliance’.

587 properties were consulted, with 93 responses received, a 16 per cent response rate.

57 were in support, 22 in support with amendments and 14 against it.

Regarding Grasmere, residents requested the 20mph limit to be extended along Red Bank Road, which officers agreed to.

It saw 416 properties consulted, with 90 responses – a response rate of 22 per cent.

38 were in support, 12 were in support with amendments and 40 were against.

In Ulverston, 6,371 properties were consulted, with 593 responses – a nine per cent response rate.

238 were in favour, 128 were in favour with amendments and 227 were against.

After requests from residents, council officers felt it suitable to include Soutergate, a section of Town Bank Road, Rake Lane and Oakwood Drive in the scheme.

The South Lakeland locality board will consider the scheme at its meeting on July 17.