A response has, after significant delay and only after multiple follow ups and lodging of a formal complaint, been received from Councellor Alex Beckett (Liberal Democrat) as chair of the Highways & Transport Committee on the petition:

"There is a significant evidence base nationally and internationally that has been built
up over many years of monitoring of speeds, accident rates, and before and after
studies following the implementation of schemes, that detail the quantifiable road
safety benefits of even small decreases in vehicle speeds. The most extensive study
of 20mph speed limits in the UK to date (covering roads in Edinburgh) showed
reductions of road deaths by a quarter, and serious injuries by a third. See Slowing
city traffic cut road deaths by a quarter | The University of Edinburgh.

Reductions in vehicle speeds reduces the potential injury outcome and even death of
our most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. There is a 7%
chance of a fatality at 30mph, which reduces significantly to 1% at 20mph. The recent
study by Agylisis for the Welsh Government showed that on average the change to a
20mph speed limit reduced average vehicle speeds in these areas to 26mph. The
faster a vehicle travels the longer it takes the vehicle to stop safely, and any inattention on a driver’s behalf adds to the amount of time it takes to stop. See How Impact Speed Affects Injury. The Council would also recommend that drivers travel in the most appropriate gear for the speed limit, which for 20mph will generally be second gear in a manual geared car.

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport committee took a policy
decision in 2022 to make it easier to implement 20mph zones by removing the
requirement for mean speeds of 24mph or less when proposing a new 20mph speed
zone or limit. The Council continues to support the implementation of 20mph speed
limits as an effective road safety intervention and does not propose to remove the
20mph speed limit in Cambourne.

Yours sincerely,
Councillor Alex Beckett
Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee"

=====================

As you can see, it does not address any of the concerns or complaints highlighted by those making their comments on the petition (a number of which were read out during presentation to the committee), only selectively highlighting studies that show a moderate reduction in accidents when 20mph limits are introduced and this is offered as the sole justification for the policy.

It makes no comment on the balancing interests of commutors, drivers and those living and travelling around Cambourne and confirms that the policy is currently not under review.

This runs contrary to the recent policy reversal in Wales in response to signficant opposition to their introduction.

One way to try and further oppose these measures is to vote for councillors who support likewise removing them - so please do check at the next local elections whether any councillors you vote for are responding to the ongoing concerns of drivers.

In the meantime, you may be interested to know that a similar petition for similar speed restrictions in Ely is at around 2000 signatures: https://www.elystandard.co.uk/news/24327164.ely-20mph-zone-council-petition-close-2-000-signatures/