Village's 20mph limit 'illegal'

A 20mph speed limit in a Cumbrian village has been increased after it was found to breach government guidelines.

The speed zone in St Bees, which includes roads near the primary school, was not close enough to traffic calming measures to be legally enforced.

After hearing that meeting Department for Transport requirements would cost about £150,000, councillors agreed to raise the limit to 30mph.

There will be "advisory" 20mph signs put up in some parts of the village.

Under the government's most recent guidelines, which came into effect several months after the speed limit was introduced, 20mph zones must be no more than 164ft (50m) from a traffic calming feature.

The zone outside St Bees Primary School does not meet this requirement, and on Friday the Copeland area committee for the county council approved the rise.