Case for a 20mph Zone

Freeland Parish Council is looking into several initiatives to reduce the speed and volume of traffic through the village, both in the context of current traffic flows but also because of the very likely increase in future traffic volumes.

The Parish Council is concerned that with the combination of increased housing in the surrounding villages, the opening of the Park & Ride and the duelling of the A40, our village could be seen as an even more convenient route for travelling between the A4095 and the A40 – and a rat run for frustrated motorists caught in tailbacks.

To gauge the appetite for the introduction of 20mph in villages in his ward, County Councillor Liam Walker ran a survey at the end of 2021/start of 2022 to ask local residents whether they supported a 20mph area in their village or not.

On the back of the responses, Freeland Parish Council has decided to request a 20mph area in the village extending from the Pigeon House Lane junction to Oakland Close, to encompass the village school.

Attached is a brief providing a summary of the aspects Freeland Parish Council has taken into account in its decision, and a summary of the current evidence on impacts including on safety and air quality from introducing a 20mph area.

Also attached is a recording and the presentation slides from the meeting held on 14 October 2022 to discuss the 20mph zone.