A new safer speed zone for Broughton-in-Furness, where residents have campaigned for years to implement a 20mph limit to deter speeding motorists and those looking for a short-cut to beat traffic on the A595, is to be implemented this summer after a local committee of Cumbria County Council approved the proposed scheme this week.
The new 20mph limits will cover most of central Broughton, while the existing 30mph limits will be extended outside the new 20mph zone. Traffic calming measures include a marked crossing near the primary school on Kepplewray, gateway features, lines and parking bays to visually narrow the road on Foxfield Road, while there is a speed indicator device paid for by community funding and a county council grant on Church Street.
Councillor Matt Brereton, in whose High Furness division of Cumbria County Broughton-in-Furness sits, comments: “I am pleased to update that on Wednesday the plans to implement a new 20mph zone for central Broughton and to extend the existing 30mph limits on Foxfield Road and beyond Kepplewray were approved by the Local Committee of Cumbria County Council.
"Thanks to everyone who has worked, campaigned or given input to the consultations on this scheme over the past four or five years; particularly Annette Carmichael and Duddon Parish Council
.The whole community has pulled together and funding has also come forth from the Parish, SLDC and CGP Trust, as well as from my devolved member's fund. The collective effort to bring together all the funding for this frankly has been phenomenal.
"I'd also like to thank the officers of the County Highways Traffic Management team, who have worked tirelessly to ensure this all went through smoothly and roughly in line with intended timescales, despite the significant disruption caused by the pandemic and cancellations or postponements of county council local committee meetings.
"The plan is to have the scheme implemented over the summer with any roadworks happening in the school holidays, so by September we should have the new 20mph zone and traffic calming measures in place. We will be keeping a watching brief to see how the new scheme works and whether there are any additional improvements we need to make.
“We will hopefully see the Broughton Speed Safety group out in force again once the new limits are in place, and we will be engaging with the wider community and employers in the area to ensure the new speed limits are respected. We want the message to go out that Broughton is open for business and welcomes all considerate drivers, but we will absolutely not tolerate speeding drivers using our streets as a shortcut to get ahead of traffic on the A595.”
