Gloucestershire County Council is seeking expressions of interest in two initiatives - Community 20s and Safer Roads.
Community 20s is the introduction of 20mph where communities live and work and/or which are used by vulnerable road users such as children and older people. Safer Roads initiative will focus on reducing speed limits on roads where there have been casualties.
These initiatives are closely aligned with our ambitions on road safety. We want to deliver safer roads, healthier streets; lowering speed limits where people to achieve the Vision Zero road safety ambition by 2050. Community 20s and Safer Roads focus on achieving safer roads and healthier streets.
The positive impact of reducing speeds on roads is well understood. It contributes to road safety not only through the reduction in accidents but also by creating a safer environment for vulnerable road users and for those using active travel.
We have a Vision Zero ambition, which we see as a transformational approach to road safety. Our aspiration in this is to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all by 2050.
A key target to achieve this vision is to see a 50% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on Gloucestershire’s roads by 2032. As part of this we consider that 20mph should be the accepted speed for drivers in places where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix. This should apply to urban and rural residential streets, and town and village centres, except on main roads where speeds must be both safe and appropriate.
Gloucestershire County Council has sent a copy of the letter provided to parish, town and district councils requesting initial interest in either initiative where there is public support, where they are appropriate for the location and that the responses are formally supported by the parish or town council (in parished areas). To register your interest in either initiative please complete the online form by 26 September 2025.
After reviewing responses, Gloucestershire County Council will share more details about these initiatives. We expect another round of engagement with parish, town, district councils and local communities to gather their feedback.
We anticipate that the Community 20s and Safer Roads programmes will receive a large amount of interest. As such, we do expect there to be a need to prioritise and assess deliverability on areas put forward. As we understand more about the level of interest in the initiatives, we’ll be better placed to map out the next steps and timescales associated with each initiative. Further information on this and the early information about the scope of the initiatives, next steps and timescales can be found in the FAQs provided.
We’ll continue to add to the webpage information and to the FAQs as the programme develops.
This initial phase is very much about understanding the appetite for the initiatives from our communities through the completion of the online response form. Hence, we are not expecting detailed dialogue with communities at this stage, however, if there are any urgent issues then please email speedlimits@gloucestershire.gov.uk with any questions or concerns.
The purpose of the Community 20s initiative is to successfully implement speed reductions in both urban and rural areas where there is public support.
The purpose of the Safer Roads initiative is to identify routes where communities have a concern about the current speed limit, which also have an existing casualty record. This will help refine our programme of casualty reductions.
The purpose of the Community 20s initiative is to successfully implement speed reductions in both urban and rural areas where there is public support.
The purpose of the Safer Roads initiative is to identify routes where communities have a concern about the current speed limit, which also have an existing casualty record. This will help refine our programme of casualty reductions.
This initiative supports the ambition to enhance the safety and quality of life in our communities. This is line with the strategy to improve road fatalities and serious injuries over ten years, approved in 2022, and our aim to improve noise and air pollution on our roads.
These interventions will in turn benefit our communities in aspects such as health and safety, making them more enjoyable places.
This initiative supports the ambition to enhance the safety and quality of life in our communities. This is line with the strategy to improve road fatalities and serious injuries over ten years, approved in 2022, and our aim to improve noise and air pollution on our roads.
These interventions will in turn benefit our communities in aspects such as health and safety, making them more enjoyable places.
Reducing speed limits contributes to improving road safety, supporting the reduction in number and severity of accidents. A reduction in the speed on roads also creates a safer environment for vulnerable road users and supports the uptake in cycling and walking.
There can also be benefits to air and noise pollution which supports better health in communities.
Reducing speed limits contributes to improving road safety, supporting the reduction in number and severity of accidents. A reduction in the speed on roads also creates a safer environment for vulnerable road users and supports the uptake in cycling and walking.
There can also be benefits to air and noise pollution which supports better health in communities.
The implementation of the Community 20s initiative will be completed over a three-year period. Given the level of interest anticipated we see this requiring a phased approach of installation of 20 mph signage over the period.
We are asking for your initial expression of interest to be submitted by 26 September 2025. Understanding the level of appetite for the initiatives will in turn help us develop a programme and likely timescales, so we’ll refine details as the project develops and share the information on our website.
The implementation of the Community 20s initiative will be completed over a three-year period. Given the level of interest anticipated we see this requiring a phased approach of installation of 20 mph signage over the period.
We are asking for your initial expression of interest to be submitted by 26 September 2025. Understanding the level of appetite for the initiatives will in turn help us develop a programme and likely timescales, so we’ll refine details as the project develops and share the information on our website.
Critical areas to be included in the Community 20s initiative must have existing public support that can be demonstrated by parish or town councillors, or district councillors in unparished areas, as well as the county councillor(s).
Consideration will also be given to:
As areas are taken forward it is expected that there will also be a full public engagement process once initial proposals have been produced, this will be informal, but results will be considered in the final implementation. This will be in addition to the statutory consultation process.
Critical areas to be included in the Community 20s initiative must have existing public support that can be demonstrated by parish or town councillors, or district councillors in unparished areas, as well as the county councillor(s).
Consideration will also be given to:
As areas are taken forward it is expected that there will also be a full public engagement process once initial proposals have been produced, this will be informal, but results will be considered in the final implementation. This will be in addition to the statutory consultation process.
Deliverability will be a key factor in the overall timescale for the project, with delivery to be completed within a 3-year period. With any scheme proposals there will be required statutory consultation with the police and emergency services, and other partners such as bus companies. In addition to the statutory consultation there will also be an informal full public engagement in each area which will be considered.
We will also seek input from our appropriate highways and transport teams to assess deliverability. We expect to combine areas together for delivery.
Deliverability will be a key factor in the overall timescale for the project, with delivery to be completed within a 3-year period. With any scheme proposals there will be required statutory consultation with the police and emergency services, and other partners such as bus companies. In addition to the statutory consultation there will also be an informal full public engagement in each area which will be considered.
We will also seek input from our appropriate highways and transport teams to assess deliverability. We expect to combine areas together for delivery.
We ask that you complete the form within this webpage providing some basic contact information and importantly expression of interest on Community 20s and/or Safer Roads. We have provided an email address if there are specific issues that you have with this initial phase of the project.
However, this is a big project for the teams so we’d be grateful if you could avoid providing general feedback via email at this stage. We will pick up detailed feedback later with those areas that express an interest.
We ask that you complete the form within this webpage providing some basic contact information and importantly expression of interest on Community 20s and/or Safer Roads. We have provided an email address if there are specific issues that you have with this initial phase of the project.
However, this is a big project for the teams so we’d be grateful if you could avoid providing general feedback via email at this stage. We will pick up detailed feedback later with those areas that express an interest.
It is expected that following the collation of the responses to this engagement we will request specific feedback through provision of a mapping tool. This online tool is planned to allow specific feedback to be provided such as highlighting roads, provision of road lengths and existing speed limits.
It is expected that following the collation of the responses to this engagement we will request specific feedback through provision of a mapping tool. This online tool is planned to allow specific feedback to be provided such as highlighting roads, provision of road lengths and existing speed limits.
For both Community 20s and Safer Roads we are seeking to fund the installation of signage-only to implement a reduction in speed limits.
For both Community 20s and Safer Roads we are seeking to fund the installation of signage-only to implement a reduction in speed limits.
It is currently expected that the Community 20s initiative and Safer Roads speed limits will be ‘signage-only’ speed limits. This means that traffic calming works are out of scope and cannot be funded by us.
Where appropriate parish, town, and district councils may wish to install traffic calming measures alongside a speed limit reduction, through their own funding and with our approval. Where appropriate we will pick this up as part of future engagement stages.
It is currently expected that the Community 20s initiative and Safer Roads speed limits will be ‘signage-only’ speed limits. This means that traffic calming works are out of scope and cannot be funded by us.
Where appropriate parish, town, and district councils may wish to install traffic calming measures alongside a speed limit reduction, through their own funding and with our approval. Where appropriate we will pick this up as part of future engagement stages.
Please fill out the information form in the first instance and we will come back to you when further information is available.
Please fill out the information form in the first instance and we will come back to you when further information is available.