A 20mph speed limit on residential roads across Cullompton has been approved following a public consultation.
The Mid Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee agreed on Tuesday 29 September to implement the scheme as advertised.
Cullompton Town Council requested the scheme, and the town was selected as one of five communities in the third phase of Devon County Council’s 20mph programme.
During the statutory consultation, held from 10 February to 3 March, 84 residents responded: 31 supported the proposals and 53 opposed them.
Concerns included the cost and whether the changes would reduce speeds. Supporters highlighted the potential benefits for children, pedestrians and road safety.
Councillor Jim Cairney, Chair of the Mid Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee, said:
“We considered the responses carefully, including the concerns raised by residents who opposed the scheme. Having weighed those views against the reasons it was proposed, the committee agreed to implement it as advertised.
“The aim is to reduce speeds on residential roads and make everyday journeys safer and more comfortable for people walking, wheeling and cycling.”
Councillor James Buczkowski, local county councillor for Cullompton, said:
“This is a targeted scheme, not a blanket 20mph limit across Cullompton. It focuses on residential streets where people live, walk and cycle, while largely retaining existing limits on the roads that carry traffic around the town.
“I know opinion is divided. The concerns raised during consultation deserve to be taken seriously, particularly the questions about cost and whether drivers will observe the new limits. I support appropriate speeds on residential roads, especially where children and families are walking to school.”
A £150,000 Local Transport Grant budget has been allocated for all five schemes in this phase of the programme, including Barnstaple Central, Buckfastleigh, Cheriton Bishop and Totnes.