Shipham is one step closer to a 20mph speed limit through the heart of the village.
After discussions with Somerset Highways and analysis of traffic data, Shipham Parish Council has confirmed that the average vehicle speed through the village is around 24mph. This is significant because it meets the threshold at which Somerset Highways and the police consider a signed 20mph limit to be both realistic and enforceable. The local consultation was also supportive.
The proposal focuses on the village centre, where the majority of homes are separated from the school, village hall, shop and other amenities by the main road. Lower speeds should make it easier and safer for residents - especially children and the elderly - to cross the road, encourage walking and cycling, and improve the village environment. The Parish Council has also recognised that some roads, including parts of Cuck Hill and New Road, currently have average speeds that are too high to qualify for a 20mph limit under existing guidance, although it hopes to secure a reduction to 40mph on the western approach towards the A38.
The Parish Council is also proposing complementary measures including a new Speed Indicator Device (SID), continued Community Speedwatch activity and, if the scheme is successful, the possibility of further traffic-calming measures in future. A village consultation is now underway, with residents, businesses and community organisations invited to have their say before any formal application is made to Somerset Highways. If there is strong local support, residents will also have a further opportunity to comment during the statutory Traffic Regulation Order consultation later this year.
