Padfield has become the county’s first total place 20mph zone in a pilot which local councillors claim could bring many benefits to the community.

Welcoming the implementation of this reduced speed zone areas County Councillor Damien Greenhalgh said: “We’ve all been working with communities and Derbyshire County Council on introducing 20mph zones in Glossopdale for some time, so it’s great to finally see the 20mph signage going up all over Padfield.”

Adding “Some of the many recorded benefits of these zones include improved air quality, noise reduction and the community having a greater sense of ownership of their streets – not to mention the potential reduction in the severity and number of accidents and collisions.”

Cty Cllr Damien Greenhalgh and Cllr Nick Longos delighted to see the newly minted 20mph signs in Padfield go up.

The pilot involves just the appropriate signs and road markings being installed, as opposed to physical traffic calming measures such as humps or tabled junctions which have been feature of past 20mph zones such as those in operation over the border in Broadbottom, Tameside.

“This pilot will involve measuring a broad range of factors to see what benefits have been achieved. If it proves as successful as the national evidence suggests it might be, then further investment could be made available for more schemes across Derbyshire.” said Cty Cllr Ellie Wilcox.

New High Peak Borough Council ward councillor Nick Longos added “This is great news. I’ve not long been the borough councillor for Padfield but the community’s desire for 20mph has been very hard to ignore. You only have to have a walk around the village and see the number of “20 is plenty” stickers on the sides of everyone’s wheelie bins and in gardens.”

Plans of the village wide 20mph zone introduced in Padfield, Derbyshire. [Derbyshire County Council – © Crown Copyright]