A public consultation was held, with online questionnaires and exhibitions held in both towns. The consultation asked for views on introducing blanket 20mph speed limits. We also asked for views from other organisations, including Derbyshire Police.
In Buxton a total of 205 responses were received in response to the consultation, with 104 in favour and 100 against (one response was blank). The local MP, Robert Largan, also carried out his own consultation into the proposals, with 70 people agreeing with them and 201 disagreeing.
In Long Eaton a total of 306 responses were received, with 63 in favour and 184 against, 59 blank responses were received.
Our Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Charlotte Cupit, said:
“We will discuss this issue at our Cabinet meeting on 7 December 2023. Our recommendation is that we do not go ahead with the introduction of blanket 20mph speed limits in either town, taking on board the views of the public and Derbyshire Police.
“The results for Long Eaton were very clear, with many more people not wanting the 20mph speed limits. In Buxton, opinion was very much split down the middle for those who responded to our survey, but many more people disagreed who responded to the consultation run by Robert Largan MP.
“I know this issue has been the subject of lots of discussion and I’m grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation or who has contacted us to express their views. Given these 20mph speed limits were going to be enforced with signs only, I do think there needed to be support for them and the impacts they would have had.
“It was right to take time to give people the chance to have their say and, considering the feedback, I want to listen to what was said, and I don’t feel we can recommend the introduction of the speed limits.
“Going forwards, we will consider future speed limit changes in our towns or villages in line with our policies and data.”