Cornwall’s 20mph speed limit will be extended in several areas

The implementation of 20mph speed limits in Cornwall will be introduced in more areas in the coming weeks. The scheme has been deemed a success by Cornwall Council in Falmouth, Penryn and Camelford, where it runs from 2022.

Earlier this month, plans were approved to reduce speed limits from 30mph to 20mph on residential and built-up roads in Cornwall. The council says it aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030.

The programme, which will cost around £4m, was a key pledge for the Conservatives in the 2021 council elections. In 2022, Phase 1 was rolled out in Camelford, Falmouth and Penryn. In Camelford, speeds in areas where the test was introduced were reduced by an average of 5.7mph, according to the council. In Falmouth and Penryn they fell by an average of 6.9 mph.

Cornwall Council also says the scheme has been largely supported. In March and April 2022, they say they received 76% positive feedback in Falmouth and Penryn and 86% positive feedback in Camelford.

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Speed ​​limits will now drop to 20 mph in other areas. The program runs in Truro and Roseland, Camborne Pool, Illogan and Redruth.

Signs and road markings will be updated in areas where pedestrians mix with traffic. In June and July, the changes will also come into force in West Penwith.

While blanket speed limits of 20mph have been controversial in Wales, Cornwall Council says it is taking a different approach. In Wales the default speed limit has been reduced to 20mph on restricted roads which had been 30mph, but in Cornwall roads are assessed on a ‘case by case’ basis.

The new speed limits will be enforced by Devon and Cornwall Police, who say they “fully support” the new rules. Enforcement will be done in places where speed limits are regularly broken.