CONTROVERSIAL speed limit changes for village roads across Allerdale look set to clear another hurdle at a meeting next week.

The plans - which affect areas such as Allonby, Wigton, and Kirkbride - are due to be considered at a meeting of the county council’s Local Committee for Allerdale on Wednesday.

Highway chiefs have insisted that the move is not intended to “placate reckless and inconsiderate drivers” or to decriminalise speeding.

Rather, the aim to make sure the speed limits are appropriate and strike the “correct balance” between “safety, reasonableness, logic and common sense”.

It has been recommended that members agree to put the plans forward to the next stage – statutory consultation and advertisements.

The “revised and final” proposals would then go before the councillors one last time with the changes set to be rolled out in the next financial year.

The proposals include changes where existing speed limits have been “deemed unsuitable” following a comprehensive review.

Several of the suggestions involve an increase of the speed limit or reversion to the higher national speed limits – a move that Highways chiefs have themselves described as “potentially controversial”.

A report from the Executive Director of Economy and Infrastructure is due to go before the Local Committee members on Allerdale on January 9.

the report said the increase would be introduced in places where it had “become apparent that the speed limit – or a portion of it – is unsuitable.”

It adds: “This manifests itself as poor compliance, where an unsuitable speed limit in a particular location, usually results in it being ignored.

“Increasing an incorrectly set speed limit to a higher level helps ensure that it is suitable for its surrounding location; that it will be generally respected and self-enforcing.

“Incorrectly set and therefore universally ignored speed limits can lead to poor compliance elsewhere, bringing the whole concept of speed limits and speed limit enforcement into disrepute.”

Following public feedback, the changes include:

  • Allonby - Reduce 30mph zone, replacing it with national speed limit. Follow-up survey to assess impact
  • Blencogo - Move 30mph limits to west of village to accommodate new development
  • Kirkbride - Implement 40mph zone on eastern approach, and more 30mph limits closer to the village
  • Oulton - Bring 30mph into village boundary, bringing 40mph zone so it passes cross roads and pub
  • Thursby - 40mph limit outside new housing development
  • Thursby, Curthwaite Road - Proposals have been revised to implement a 40mph limit (up from 30mph)
  • Wigton, Lowmoor Rd - Adjust 30mph limit, add 40mph zone