East Sussex Council Backs Review Of Default 30mph Village Speed Limit

East Sussex County Council has unanimously backed a call to investigate introducing a default 30mph speed limit for villages and smaller settlements across the county.

The motion was put forward by Reform UK councillor Mark Ashdown at a meeting on Tuesday (13 October).

He argued that a consistent speed limit would make the rules clearer for drivers and provide a more straightforward approach to setting limits in residential areas.

However, council officers warned the proposal would depart from government guidance and could cost more than £4 million to implement.

A briefing paper identified 24 village roads with speed limits above 30mph. Eighteen could require additional traffic-calming measures, alongside five other schemes involving signage alone.

The council's lead member for transport and environment, Councillor Peter Griffiths, supported investigating the proposal but raised concerns about how the work would be funded.

Councillor Ashdown argued that introducing 30mph signs would be enough to encourage many drivers to slow down, without necessarily requiring additional traffic-calming measures.

Green and Liberal Democrat councillors also proposed extending the discussion to default 20mph limits around schools and in town centres, alongside a process for considering lower limits where residents want them.

Green Party councillor Charlotte Keenan said road safety and speeding were among the biggest concerns raised by residents and parish councils in her Chailey division.

However, her proposed amendment was rejected, and the original motion was passed unanimously.

The council's Place Scrutiny Committee and transport lead member will now be asked to consider the proposal.