Residents in Burneside, near Kendal, have one final opportunity to influence proposed 20mph speed limits after Westmorland and Furness Council opened a 21-day statutory consultation on amended plans.
The consultation concerns the scheme’s detailed Traffic Regulation Order. It is the last formal chance to comment on the revised design before any new limits could be introduced. The council is expected to consider responses after the consultation closes and decide later in 2026 whether the Burneside scheme should proceed.
How to comment on the proposals
Residents can respond through the council’s consultation information, explaining whether they support or oppose the proposals. People who took part in the earlier community engagement can also restate their previous views when commenting on the revised design.
The detailed amended layout was not included in the announcement supplied by Kendal Report. Residents will therefore need to consult the council’s information for the full Traffic Regulation Order and the precise details of the proposed changes.
The plans were changed after feedback from an earlier community consultation. The council says the amended design reflects local views, while the latest statutory process gives residents a further opportunity to emphasise their position before a decision is made.
Why Burneside’s speed-limit plan was amended
Westmorland and Furness Council says its wider 20mph programme is intended for built-up towns and villages where the existing maximum speed limit is 40mph or less. It also says the schemes have been designed in line with Department for Transport guidance, with the stated aim of creating safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
Burneside is among 17 community-backed proposals in the third phase of the council’s wider 20mph programme. Eleven phase-three schemes are progressing as originally proposed, while six—including Burneside—are moving forward with amendments. Nine other proposed schemes will not proceed because the required level of demonstrated support was not received.
Other South Lakeland schemes
In South Lakeland, High Carley and Pennington, Lowick Green and Outgate are progressing without amendments. Burneside, Grasmere and Ulverston are progressing with changes.
The amendments to the Ulverston proposals include Soutergate, part of Town Bank Road, Rake Lane and Oakwood Drive. Proposals for Elterwater, Rydal, Troutbeck and Windermere are not being taken forward because respondents did not demonstrate the required level of support.
The council introduced a streamlined process for 20mph applications in December 2023. It said the change made it easier and quicker for communities to submit requests and reduced the application process by several months.
Since then, 49 requests have been made, covering 79 proposed schemes across Westmorland and Furness. The phase-three proposals were first considered by the Eden, Furness and South Lakeland locality boards after communities supported them during the initial consultation.
A decision on whether the Burneside scheme will be implemented is expected later in 2026, once the statutory consultation has ended.