We, the undersigned, support 20mph speed limits in places such as outside Schools and in high pedestrian areas, where the evidence shows it is needed and will improve road safety.

We do not support the use of blanket 20mph zones like that imposed in Ely in March 2024, where the consultation was poorly executed, and where thousands of people that stood to be affected were unaware of the proposal and wide community support was not demonstrated. 

We believe that the decision to implement the Ely 20mph zone being taken by a single Officer of Cambridgeshire County Council in a "delegated decision meeting" in consultation with the two County Councillors for Ely was wrong.  We believe that such a decision should be taken by elected politicians in an open and transparent manner in a meeting that is open to the public to attend.

We call on Cambridgeshire County Council to reconsider the locations for 20mph speed limits in Ely, taking into account new Government guidance, and to properly evidence its proposals.  This should also take into consideration whether and what type of on road engineering solutions are required in locations proposed for 20mph speed limits in order to secure maximum possible compliance. 

Following this, we call on Cambridgeshire County Council to carry out a new comprehensive and well publicised consultation on the proposals in accordance with Government guidance.