SPEED limits of 20mph could be introduced in four parts of the Forest.

Initial engagement in Cinderford, Ruspidge, Soudley and Littledean would start if next year.

Gloucestershire county councillors were today (Wednesday) expected to approve the initiative.

The Safer Roads and Community 20s programme went to the council’s Cabinet for approval.

The programme sets out how lower speed limits will be introduced in towns, villages and neighbourhoods where there is local support, alongside targeted reductions on higher-risk rural roads.

It aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries and make streets safer.

The county council has already secured almost £2.8 million of funding to start the schemes, with the first schemes expected in the 2026-27 financial year.

A phased four-year approach will prioritise areas with the greatest road safety need.

Work with the four Forest communities would start in 2027-28.

Based on the experience in other counties where similar initiatives have been introduced, it is estimated that the total cost of the four-year programme will be around £6 million.

The council says lower speeds are proven to reduce both the likelihood and severity of collisions.

In residential areas they also make it easier and safer for people to walk, wheel and cycle, helping children get to school safely, older residents stay active, and communities feel more connected.

The Safer Roads and Community 20s programme was a high-profile manifesto commitment by the Liberal Democrats who took over running the county council at the last election.

Cllr Lisa Spivey, (Lib Dem, South Cerney), the  leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Keeping people safe on our roads is one of our biggest priorities. This programme will allow us to introduce 20mph limits in communities that want them and where they will make the biggest difference to safety. 

“This is a practical, evidence-led approach that focuses on reducing serious injuries and deaths while working closely with local communities.”

More than 150 parish councils as well as parts of Gloucester and Cheltenham have already expressed interest in joining the programme. 

Each community will be engaged directly, with information shared about local traffic speeds and collision data before any formal consultation takes place. 

Alongside community 20mph limits, the council will continue delivering safety schemes at locations where collision records show people are most at risk. These may include speed reductions or physical changes to road layouts. 
Although casualty numbers have fallen since the council set a target to halve deaths and serious injuries from 2022 to 2032, 1,125 people were involved in road traffic collisions in Gloucestershire last year, highlighting the need for continued action.

Cabinet approval will allow officers to finalise the first year’s programme and begin detailed engagement with communities. 

Almost a third of British roads, or about 39,000 miles of the road network, are now 20mph and more speed limits are set to be reduced in the months ahead. An estimated 19.1 million people across Britain live in neighbourhoods with a 20mph limit.