The call for a 20mph limit has come from local people
In Wedmore, local people have been consistently calling for a 20mph limit for 23 years.
In 2003 the Parish Plan survey had 89% of parishioners ‘very concerned’ about speed in the village with 64% preferring a 20mph limit.
In the Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan dated May 2019, which you can find on Wedmore Parish Council’s own website, on page 22 you find the following commitment: “A 20mph speed limit in the areas marked on the Proposals Map will mitigate community concerns about excessive vehicle speeds and danger to pedestrians and cyclists.” 85% had said they wanted a 20mph limit.
More recently, on 21 March 2025 at the Wedmore Village Hall Open Day the Parish Council consulted on parishioners’ priorities and it is clear from the ‘dot sticker’ chart produced (shown here) that road safety is top of their list – with the 20mph zone a key priority.
So, who will now make this happen for us?
- Somerset Council has already said Wedmore is suitable for a 20mph speed limit
- Wedmore Parish Council has the funds to pay for it – including potentially some Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds from recent housing developments.
- In three surveys in the past 23 years Wedmore parishioners have said they want it.
All that is needed is for all of us parishioners to persuade our Parish Council to stop stalling and get on and do it. They simply can’t keep hiding behind ‘Standing Orders’ as an excuse for doing nothing.
This is not an accident yet, but indicative of the need for a reduced speed limit.
I would like to draw your attention to one hazardous road junction where I have experiences several close calls due to the very limited visibility when entering Pilcorn Street from Guildhall lane. This risk would be considerably reduced if the limit was 20mph not 30.
A vehicle approaching this junction from the village cannot be seen when pulling out of Guildhall Lane until it’s 60 feet away. Considering that 30 mph is 44 feet per second this is the perfect scenario for a side-on impact to anyone pulling out of Guildhall Lane meeting a vehicle travelling at the present legal limit. Also a driver approaching this junction from the village cannot see the Guildhall Lane junction until they are on top of it. They could be driving happily at 30mph legally.
This sort of dangerous situation is not considered when the Parish Highways Committee is discussing average speeds as some sort of criteria for not acting on the 20 mph proposal. I’m sure that there are quite a few other places in Wedmore where a similar potential ‘accident waiting to happen’ exists especially if the legal limit is 30.