West Berkshire Council to refocus 20mph zones on communities with strong local support

West Berkshire Council will be refocusing its rollout of 20mph zones in the areas where there is clear and significant support from local residents.

Four 20mph schemes were originally planned for delivery this year (2025/26), with funding allocated for those schemes and for future projects. This followed a successful pilot in Theale, where there was community support for the introduction of a village‑wide 20mph limit.

The Theale pilot demonstrated that 20mph limits can work well where there is strong community backing, giving the Council confidence to explore similar schemes elsewhere across the district. However, consultation feedback on other proposed schemes in Thatcham, Bucklebury, Cold Ash and Hermitage showed views were mixed, with lower levels of support from residents.

The Council has been clear from the outset that 20mph limits would only be introduced in areas where residents want them. In light of the consultation feedback received, the Council will now be amending its plans so that future schemes are progressed only where significant public support is clearly expressed, for example by local residents, community groups, and town and parish councils.

Work will continue on consultations for proposed schemes in Lambourn and East Garston, as preparation is already underway and community support is anticipated in those areas.

A formal decision on the revised approach will be taken shortly by Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Highways and Transport.

Councillor Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Highways and Transport said:

"The Theale pilot was a success and showed what can be achieved when a community is supportive of a 20mph scheme. That gave us confidence to look at other areas, but it's also clear that the level of support elsewhere has been mixed. 

 

 

"We said from the beginning that these schemes would only go ahead where residents show support for them, and we have listened carefully to the views people have shared with us. We always listen to what people are telling us and, as a result, we are adapting our approach to focus on communities where there is strong local backing for introducing 20mph schemes. We will continue to look at requests for individual roads to have speed reductions where needed, and speed reductions outside of schools, and we will do this through our new Highways Improvement Group that we are launching this month, where such requests can be received and considered"

Further information about current and future 20mph consultations will be shared on the Council's website as proposals are brought forward for consideration are taken.