Ely: Council need to 'urgently' rethink 20mph zone

The decision about Ely’s blanket 20mph speed limit was taken behind closed doors in a meeting the public could not attend.

I am receiving a lot of emails and messages from people that are angry about the blanket 20mph speed limit being introduced in Ely, with many understandably saying they are upset that they were not asked what they thought about the idea in advance.

The Liberal Democrat, Labour, Independent administration at Cambridgeshire County Council created a special budget for 20mph speed limits across the county and invited parish councils that were interested to come forward.

The City of Ely Council put in an expression of interest but wasn’t able to debate it at a public meeting because the county council deadline did not allow enough time.

The county council held a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation last summer. I managed to get this consultation extended, but even so, the county council did almost nothing to promote it beyond the statutory minimum; only 195 people responded.

Work starts on the 20mph zone on March 4. (Image: ECDC)

The parish councils around Ely were not specifically consulted at all and neither was the district council.

Nevertheless, East Cambs District Council responded to the consultation and objected, calling for a more evidence-based street by street approach.

Shockingly, the decision to go ahead was taken behind closed doors in a meeting that the public could not attend and was made by a county council officer in consultation with the two local county councillors for Ely, Cllrs Alison Whelan and Piers Coutts.

A sweeping decision like this should be properly consulted and taken in full view of the public with the scrutiny and accountability that such a meeting brings.

In view of the snap poll on social media (of 1,368 responses, 80per cent said 'no' to the 20mph speed limit) the county council should urgently rethink this plan, save the money, and repair Ely’s potholes and poorly maintained roads instead.