Northumberland village’s request for 20mph speed limit turned down

However, officers said the statistics did not back up the calls, and the village didn’t meet the national criteria for a 20mph blanket limit. Data collected by the council via speed surveys across three sites in the village found that the maximum average speed was 27mph and are therefore below the level for any road safety interventions.

Furthermore, according to Northumbria Police there have been no personal injury collisions in the village in the past three years.

The petition, which was signed by 87 residents, read: “Residents are calling for Ovingham to become a 20mph zone to ensure pedestrians and cyclists feel safer.

“Children walking to the Ovingham Middle School and cyclists travelling through the village deserve to enjoy the 20mph limit other villages in Northumberland have. We call on Northumberland County Council to launch a full consultation for a Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the speed limit in Ovingham to 20mph.”

The decision falls to council officers as it is a technical decision rather than a policy one. However, not all members were happy with the move.

Green Party councillor Anotnia Azocar-Nevin pointed out the council had policies in place to make walking and cycling more people’s preferred route of travel, and that residents felt “unsafe” while doing so in the village due to speeding traffic.

The petition was led by Coun Lawrence O’Donnell, who represents the Prudhoe North and Wylam ward and brought it forward prior to his election last May. Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Tynedale Community Partnership, he said: “People in Ovingham want their village to be a 20mph zone.

“I brought this petition at a time when I was speaking to most of the residents in the village on a daily basis. The need is there for it.

“The petition shows there isn’t excessive speeding, but there is concern over speed. This is a village that at times is without pavements on both sides of the road.”

Council highways officer Neil Snowden said: “There is always going to be the odd vehicle going well above the speed limit. That could be an emergency vehicle on a callout.

“We have to base it on the average date. The average speeds are below the criteria and well within acceptable limits.

“There have been no personal injury accidents in the last three years. It is working really well.

“It is a very emotive issue, but we try to put 20mph limits where they are needed and where they will be successful.”