There is still time to take part in the statutory consultations on 24 community-backed 20mph speed limits across Westmorland and Furness including plans for parts of Penrith and local villages around the town.

All 24 areas initially proposed in the second phase of schemes were approved at Westmorland and Furness Councils locality boards in Eden, Furness and South Lakeland last month after local communities supported the proposals during an initial consultation held in the summer.  

Those proposals to introduce new 20mph limits are now going through a statutory consultation process before the final decision is made to determine implementation in early 2026 by the council.

The statutory consultation for the Penrith and Eden area closes on Saturday 6th December.

For more information and to take part in the consultation, go to: https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/streets-roads-and-pavements/road-maintenance-closures-and-improvements/proposed-traffic-regulation-orders-tros

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 provides a further opportunity for people to have their say. There isn't long left so I would urge anybody with an interest who hasn’t already to make their views known."

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: 

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.   

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.  

For full details of all the Penrith and Eden schemes, go to:  

https://www.westmorlandandfurness.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=268&MId=14280

For more information on 20mph schemes in Westmorland and Furness, visit www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/20mph.