20mph request for Steppingley Gardens and Froghall Fields estate
Full details of the e-petition
We, the undersigned, call upon Central Bedfordshire Council to prioritise a review of road safety on the roads and public footpaths within the Steppingley Gardens and Froghall Fields Estate. We ask that the Council work with residents to introduce a formal 20mph speed limit, alongside appropriate traffic-calming measures and signage, to reduce traffic speeds, improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, and enhance the overall quality of life within the local community.
Supporting details
1. The "Hierarchy of Road Users" (Legal & Policy Duty)
Under the Department for Transport’s updated guidance (2023) and the Highway Code (Rule H1), those driving have the greatest responsibility to protect pedestrians and cyclists.
Reason: "Enforcing a 20mph zone would align the estate with national best practice, prioritising pedestrian safety and legally protected vulnerable road users over traffic flow."
2. Anti-Social Behaviour & Noise Pollution (Environmental Health)
High speeds aren't just dangerous; they cause statutory nuisance (noise). Research shows higher speeds dramatically increase tyre/engine noise and subjective intimidation.
Reason: "Reducing speeds to 20mph will lower noise pollution for residents, directly improving sleep quality and mental wellbeing, while reducing the sense of intimidation currently felt by families walking on the pavement."
3. Active Travel & "Liveable Neighbourhoods" (Funding Compliance)
The Council must justify spends on maintaining roads. If a road is hostile to walking/cycling, it fails government Active Travel goals.
Reason: "Lower speed limits would encourage more walking and cycling within the estate, reducing local car dependency for short trips and supporting the council’s public health and climate action targets."
4. Accident Statistics vs. Survival Rates (Medical Evidence)
This is the most compelling data point for budget holders: the difference between 20mph and 30mph is life and death.
Reason: "At 30mph, a pedestrian hit by a car has a 20% chance of being killed. At 20mph, that risk drops to 2.5%. We request the council implement these speed limits proactively, rather than reactively after a fatal collision."
Sign the e-petition
Start date
30 April 2026
End date
11 June 2026
Number of respondents
116