THE COUNCIL is set to lower the speed limit on a number of roads in a Cumbrian town centre.

Members of South Lakeland locality board are recommended to approve measures to lower the speed limit to 20mph on series of roads in Ulverston.

The order is set to be implemented on Fountain Street, Daltongate, King Street, Queen Street, County Square Roundabout, Market Place, New Market Street, Victoria Road, Benson Road, Cavendish Street, New Market Back Street, Theatre Street, Boltons Place, Cross Street, Brewery Street and Brogden Street.

Other roads the order is set to be implemented include Little Union Street, Market Street, Brogden Street, The Weint, Union Place, Union Street, Well Street, Deerfield, Fallowfield Avenue and Machell Close.

In a consultation period on the plans, the council received 24 comments in support with requests to further extend the scheme.

The respondents stated they would like to see Southergate, Town Bank Road and the streets leading off the B5281 included in the scheme as cars coming in and out of Ulverston on the B5281 are being driven at speeds ‘considerably over’ the speed limit.

A report prepared for this meeting states the council has a 20mph policy which opened to applications from parish and town councils. Introduction of further 20mph within Ulverston will be considered under this process for introduction in a future phase.

It adds: “It is not possible to make changes within these proposals which are more onerous at the statutory consultation and advertisement stage.”

In consultation documents, waste and environmental services for the council say they support the scheme.

They stated: “The changes will be beneficial towards keeping the councils’ operatives safe whilst carrying out collections of waste and recycling on the streets and roads listed within the proposed order.”

However, the proposals received one objection which stated Ulverston Town Centre is a ‘natural speed reduction area’ due to its shape and size.

The report prepared for the meeting says: “Introduction of 20mph have shown to make streets safer by reducing speeds and enabling an equitable use of the road space for all users, encourage residents to walk and cycle by reducing speeds, bring health benefits both physical and mental and reduce noise pollution by amending the way vehicles accelerate/ decelerate.”

The proposed 20mph scheme in Ulverston is to be funded through a private works agreement with Ulverston Town Council.

Members of South Lakeland locality board are set to approve the reduction of the speed limit when they meet on April 25 at the County Hall in Kendal.