Latest Update - 29th July 2025
Cambridgeshire County Council proposes to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and all other enabling powers. The effect of this Order will be;
To implement a 20mph speed limit on the whole length of the following roads in Bottisham; Ancient Meadows, Arber Close, Beechwood Avenue, Bradfords Close, Cedar Walk, Downing Close, Howlett Way, Jenyns Close, Lysander Close, Maple Close, Mulberry Close, Parsonage Barns, Peacock Drive, Pound Close, Rowan Close, Rowley Gardens, Spring Lane, Stocks Close, Thomas Christian Way, Trinity Close, Tunbridge Close, Vineyard Walk, West Walk, Willow Walk and on Bell Road from its junction with High Street in a south westerly direction for 300m, High Street from its junction with Lode Road in a south easterly direction for 834m, Lode Road from a point 130m northwest of its junction with Pound Close in a south easterly direction to its junction with High Street and Tunbridge Lane from its junction with High Street to a point 20m north east of its junction with Peacock Drive. And to implement a 40mph speed limit buffer on Tunbridge Lane from a point 284m northeast of its junction with Thomas Christian Way in an easterly direction for 400m.
For administrative purposes existing speed limit Orders for the Parish of Bottisham will be revoked, though their effects, as amended by the proposed, shall be consolidated into this Order. The full detail was published on Bottisham Parish Council website at the time the residents survey went live; 30th July 2025 with the closing date for comment the 20th August 2025.
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Bottisham Parish Council applied for a 20mph speed limit throughout the village of Bottisham. The reason we strongly believed this was needed within the village. It will help address significant known safety issues that have got progressively worse over a number of years. These issues and why we felt this application was justified was detailed within the application. It was supplemented with detail from residents that have been concerned for many years about the disruption and dangers posed by the volume and speed of traffic.
Bottisham is already a very busy village and is often used as a “rat-run” or through-route to nearby villages of Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior and Burwell. Bottisham Parish Council has received a number of complaints of speeding within the village despite having speed warning signs (MVAS) and 30mph poles. Bottisham has a growing population of 2400 with a primary and secondary school, two care homes and a recently approved, to be built, 170 retirement home. The village is made up of a very diverse population, older people, growing families with children, young adults and persons with mobility issues and irrespective of age and ability surely their safety is paramount?
Bottisham is planned to have a Greater Cambridgeshire Partnership “Greenway” through the village encouraging active and sustainable travel. This “Greenway” will result in Bell Road (a major route into Bottisham) being designated as a “quiet street” and move from 30mph to 20mph. This “Greenway” is going to see cyclists in the primary position of the carriageway. In order for this to happen and more importantly ensure safety is paramount we really need to slow the traffic down everywhere. However, this does not address the crucial main roads through Bottisham which are all 30mph and where majority of speeding and incidents take place.
Bottisham Parish Council has worked hard to find ways of improving safety in the heart of the village. We are aware of the challenges with the junction of Bell Road, the endless speeding on main routes that lead to both a primary and secondary school where numerous school children are walking and cycling to school then adding in the care homes and the doctors – it’s a real challenge.