20mph speed limit for Falmouth, Penryn and villages consultation

Yesterday the Packet reported how a consultation on proposals for the Falmouth and Penryn Community Network Area (CNA) had been launched and would run until Thursday, March 31, while a consultation for a similar scheme in Camelford would start on Wednesday, March 30 and finish on Wednesday, April 20.

Cornwall Council under the proposals the majority of 30mph speed limits would reduced to 20mph, except on roads where there is a "clear need to retain the current speed limit."

READ MORE:

• Here's how to have your say on 20mph speed limits in Falmouth, Penryn & Camelford

Now consultation documents show the full extent of the area that would be covered.

A huge swathe of Falmouth would become 20mph under the new proposals, with a similar picture in Penryn, as the maps below show. 

In addition to all residential areas of Falmouth and Penryn, where there is an existing 30mph speed limit, a number of surrounding villages would also be affected.

These include Budock Water, Mawnan Smith, Mylor Bridge, Ponsanooth, Treverva, Perranarworthal and Perranwell Station.

A large proportion of Mylor Bridge would be affected

The reduction to 20mph would affect almost the entirety of the villages.

However, the council has confirmed that the 30mph limit on the main road through Perranarworthal, between Falmouth and Truro, would not be reduced to 20mph, as this falls within the exemption category. 

The Falmouth and Penryn Community Network Area is part of 'phase one' of the '20mph Rollout' scheme, suggesting that the plan is to extend it to all areas of Cornwall in the future.

The main Perranarworthal road would not be reduced to 20mph

Explaining the reasoning behind the scheme, the council said: "It is considered that implementing a reduced speed limit (20mph) on roads within these areas will make a major contribution towards improving road safety, especially for vulnerable road users, or traffic using these roads.

"This, in turn, will aid in the achievement of the Council’s ‘Vision Zero’ goal – working towards the prevention of all fatal and serious injuries on the county road network.

"The imposition of 20mph speed limits in these locations, should also improve the amenity of these areas and assist in encouraging a transition towards individuals using active travel, particularly for local journeys, resulting in increased journey time reliability and healthier communities.

"Severance by traffic will also be reduced, facilitating a greater use of local community facilities and enabling more liveable streets. As well as encouraging more social interaction, this should also be beneficial to the local economy.

"The wide roll-out of 20mph speed limits is also likely to reduce noise and air pollution, via the removal of any need for motor vehicles to use harsh breaking and/or acceleration; providing additional positive health benefits for both visitors and residents alike."

You can have your say on the proposals at the consultation at https://bit.ly/3tJPelm

You can also email the Engineering Design Group on traffic@cormacltd.co.uk, quoting the scheme name and reference, and indicating your support or objection to the proposals, or write using the Consultation Response Form on the consultation site.