Local Conservatives have reacted with deep concern over emerging news that the Labour-run Cheshire West and Chester Council looks set to make it harder for local communities to request and implement changes to speed limits.
Under the current policy, initial surveys to help inform requests have been funded by the Council, on the proviso that if changes are recommended, they will meet 50% of the costs and the requestor (such as a councillor or parish council) will fund the remainder. Now, in a likely detrimental move, a process of reviewing the ‘community-led speed limit policy’ looks set to change the burden of funding the whole cost away from council.
In response to a councillor enquiry, it has been stated that:
“The [Highways] service is currently in the process of reviewing our community-led speed limit policy. During this interim period, all new requests are on hold until the amended policy has received Cabinet approval. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a timeline for when the new policy will become operational…
“Once the new policy has been agreed all Councillors will be informed, following this they will be able to request a survey, if they are willing to fund it.”
A separate query also stated:
“It is anticipated that any initial surveys and the implementation of signage required following confirmation of recommended changes will need to be fully funded by the requestor.”
Reacting to the news, Cllr Simon Eardley (Saughall & Mollington, Con), Deputy Leader of the Cheshire West and Chester Conservative Group and Shadow Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
“This Labour-led council is not in tune with the wishes of local people who tell us that speeding in their communities is a major concern. The process to deliver change is already too cumbersome, incredibly slow and very expensive to implement changes. This review of the ‘community-led speed limit policy’ is unlikely to result in a positive outcome for those areas with legitimate concerns around speeding vehicles, which we know can have catastrophic consequences when accidents occur.
“The policy of the council picking up 50% of the costs of any recommended changes put delivery of them just about in reach. In future, it looks likely that change will be almost impossible to deliver, even where circumstances warrant it. A scheme in my own ward was costed at around £8,000, which is beyond the resources of most parish councils, even if their borough councillor can chip in with support too.
“How on earth does the leadership of the council expect local communities to be able to deliver real and visible change – which a reduction in a speed limit is – when faced with these massive costs? It is totally unacceptable and not to the interests of road safety.”
Commenting further, Cllr Adrian Waddelove (Farndon, Con), Leader of the Conservative Group, said:
“Local Conservative councillors have long prioritised road safety and championed lower speed limits where appropriate. It’s why we moved amendments to the council budget in February 2025 to ensure the anomaly of some education establishments in the borough having speed limits higher than 20mph be ended. By winning that argument, it was a victory for public safety, especially the safety of young people.
“This review of the community-led speed limit policy looks like penny pinching too far. Whilst this review is taking place, all new requests are on hold and no timeline has been given for when the new policy will become operational, having first been approved by the Labour led Cabinet. This leaves communities in limbo and unable to address in a practical way one of their biggest concerns.
“We call on Labour councillors to put a stop to this aspect of any review now and look at better and safer ways they can support concerned residents, not by putting more barriers in their way.”
