Cheshire East gives the green light for 20 MPH maximum speed limits

At the Cheshire East Council meeting on 16 December the Council debated a motion put forward by independent Councillor Suzie Akers-Smith seconded by Labour Councillor James Barber, in support of the ’20 is Plenty’ campaign to deliver 20 mph limits in appropriate areas.

Sadly, an amendment was put forward by the Conservatives to water down the proposal to only implement 20mph limits only where speed bumps or other traffic calming measures were also being implemented. The LibDem leader called this as a wrecking amendment and the Conservative amendment was defeated. The LibDems then put forward an amendment to change the word ‘limits’ to ‘restrictions’. After a debate of three hours, much of which was taken-up by inconsequential amendments put forward by opposition members and flip-flopping by Conservatives, who originally rejected the use of the word ‘restrictions’ then supported it after their own amendment failed, the motion approving the principle of support for more 20mph areas in Cheshire East was finally approved.

Labour Leader of the Council Cllr Sam Corcoran said “It looked to me as though the Conservatives were trying to block a good proposal without having the courage to actually say so outright.  Cycling and walking are good for your physical health and good for your mental health. And cutting down car use is crucial to tackling climate change.

I want to encourage more people to walk and cycle rather than driving – and the biggest deterrent to cycling is fear over safety. There is strong support from cyclists for 20mph limits. As one public speaker said of cycling inside a 20mph area ‘I feel part of the flow’.”

Mike Hunter, Labour Councillor for Middlewich, said ‘’This is a massive step forward towards making our residential and estate roads safer for all. Whilst not every road will be suitable for inclusion, we can start work in 2021 to make it safer and cleaner for drivers as well as children, pedestrians and cyclists.’’