Local councillors speak with “pride” over implementation of Conservative policy for lower speed limits around education establishments
Conservative councillors on Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) have welcomed news that their policy to reduce speed limits around local education establishments is being implemented.
Councillors Simon Eardley (Saughall and Mollington, Con) and Razia Daniels (Handbridge Park, Con) introduced a fully funded amendment at the Budget Council meeting in February 2025 to lower speed limits to 20mph around over 20 education establishments, and to employ a ‘Safer Routes to School’ officer to support the existing team.
The amendment was eventually agreed, despite the ruling Labour administration removing the provision for the new officer position. However, a report brought to the CWaC Cabinet on 15th October 2025 contains a full plan for the implementation of changes to speed limits in identified locations (subject to public consultation) and has re-introduced the inclusion of a dedicated Safer Routes to School Officer for a period of 8 months.
Commenting, Cllr Simon Eardley, the Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Transport and Conservative Group Deputy Leader, said:
"Since the Budget Council meeting in February, we have worked hard – on a positive, collaborative cross-party basis – to move this safety priority forward. We welcome the publication of this report, and we are proud that our road safety policy is being properly progressed, and change is being implemented.
“It was disappointing that, during our debate in February, the Labour administration missed our point about the plan to appoint a ‘Safer Routes to School’ officer and removed that from the budget decision. It seems it wasn’t such a bad idea after all! We welcome this appointment, albeit on a temporary basis. We would like to see the position made permanent, as we know there remain ongoing concerns around the safety of our roads around education establishments where there’s an inevitable increase in footfall.
“All our plans around this should, of course, be compliant with national Department for Transport policy. But that same policy framework allows us a degree of discretion and pragmatism when it comes to speed limits at a local level. We should not be afraid to exercise that discretion where appropriate.
“To my mind, the dominant factor to consider in this context is simply the presence of an education establishment. That means a particular approach and strategy around highway safety is necessary. It is likely to mean that a lower speed limit will be needed – always.”
“For us, this was never about party politics. It was about identifying a clear problem, coming up with a plan and delivering results on behalf of residents and their children to improve road safety, particularly around local education establishments.”
Cllr Adrian Waddelove (Farndon, Con), Conservative Group Leader, added:
“I am proud that the Cabinet report clearly sets out the next steps and follows the intentions of our principled budget amendment in February. Local Conservative councillors have been and will continue to be robust in ensuring that the timeframe for implementation of public consultation and delivery of this policy is met.
“We know that many in our communities feel strongly that speeding on our roads needs to be tackled, especially where there are potentially substantial numbers of vulnerable users present, such as children. We expect to see any new 20mph limits implemented by late 2025 or early 2026 at the latest. If additional resources are required, which don’t require vast amounts of money, they should be found.
“Our championing of this policy to tackle safety concerns around local education establishments is exactly the sort of approach our residents would see a future Conservative-led administration take: identify an issue, develop a fully costed plan and implement robust change.”
INFORMATION
During April and May 2025, the Council’s Highways and Road Safety Officers reviewed 29 speed limits near educational establishments, including 23 schools and 6 colleges/universities. Based on the review, the following actions have been proposed:
- 13 locations – implement 20mph signed speed limits
- 4 locations – introduce 20mph advisory speed limits when lights are flashing
- 1 location – reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph
- 3 locations – undertake further investigations (currently 40mph/60mph but do not meet the criteria for reduction without additional measures)
- 2 locations – to be monitored (recently reduced from 40mph to 30mph)
- 6 locations – no further action required.
Public consultation will now be carried out with affected schools, residents, local councillors, local safety groups and other stakeholders.
The report that was considered at the CWaC Cabinet meeting on 15th October 2025 is available here: https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/s92797/Report%20to%20Cabinet%20-%20Speed%20limit%20review.pdf
A full list of the educational establishments affected is available to view here (Appendix A): https://cmttpublic.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/documents/s92799/Appendix%20A%20-%20Proposed%20Speed%20limits.pdf
