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  "path": "/lifestyle/cars/national-speed-limit-60mph-30mph-berkshire",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-24T15:11:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Motorists switch to using public transport to avoid paying £5 daily congestion charge",
    "Petrol cars labelled cheaper to run than EVs as savings 'disappear very quickly' despite Labour's push",
    "Major car brands recall 700k vehicles amid serious issues including fire risk - 'Park outside and away from structures'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nMotorists could soon be forced to slow from 60mph to just 30mph along a string of rural roads in Berkshire under new plans being considered by Wokingham Borough Council.\n\nThe council revealed it is looking at slashing the national speed limit on 13 country lanes around Wargrave, cutting the current 60mph limit in half in a bid to boost safety.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIf approved, drivers travelling along routes including Bear Lane, Blakes Lane, Crazies Hill Road and Wargrave Hill would have to stick to a 30mph restriction.\n\nThe proposals have been put forward by Wargrave Parish Council under a newly introduced borough-wide speed limit policy.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 13 roads under review are Bear Lane, Blakes Lane, Blakes Road, Crazies Hill Road, Culham Lane, Dark Lane, Hatchgate Lane, Highfield Lane, Milley Lane, Mumbery Hill, Scarletts Lane, Tag Lane and Wargrave Hill.\n\nThe shake-up has been designed to prioritise safety on narrow rural roads where pedestrians and cyclists mix with vehicles – often without pavements or even grass verges to step onto.\n\nMany of the lanes identified are less than four metres wide in places, yet still carry two-way traffic. Residents say that leaves little room for error when cars pass at speed.\n\nWayne Smith, councillor for Thames ward, has spent a decade campaigning for lower limits on the area's country roads. He said the situation has become increasingly dangerous.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe said: \"I have manned dozens of speed patrols and spoken to countless worried residents about the escalating numbers of inconsiderate drivers in these single-carriageway lanes, many of which are less than four metres wide in places and yet have to support fast-moving two-way traffic as well as vulnerable users who have no footpaths or verges to escape to.\"\n\nHe warned that official accident figures do not tell the full story. \"It can be terrifying to take the dog for a walk or escort children to school,\" he added, arguing that many minor crashes and near misses are never formally reported.\n\nUnder the council's revised policy, rural roads that are especially narrow, have no footways and are used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders can be classed as \"quiet ways\".\n\nThat designation makes them eligible for a 30mph limit.\n\nMr Smith welcomed the change in approach, saying: \"Fortunately, Wokingham's new speed limit policy gives more weight to community concerns and is less reliant on traditional red tape, which means that sanity is coming to our lanes at last.\"\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Motorists switch to using public transport to avoid paying £5 daily congestion charge\n  * Petrol cars labelled cheaper to run than EVs as savings 'disappear very quickly' despite Labour's push\n  * Major car brands recall 700k vehicles amid serious issues including fire risk - 'Park outside and away from structures'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nResidents living along the affected roads have also backed the proposals. Laura Fenton, who lives on Blakes Lane, described the plans as \"fantastic\" and said she regularly fears for her safety.\n\n\"I am often scared walking into the village with the buggy as cars brush by at speeds up to 60mph,\" she said.\n\nSimon Chapman, of Scarletts Lane, previously submitted a petition calling for lower limits. He believes the change would make a dramatic difference.\n\n\"For many years I have not been prepared to risk life and limb by walking out of my front gate, but, thankfully, common sense has prevailed,\" he said, describing the move as \"what, for many, will be a life-enhancing reduction in the speed limit\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAdrian Betteridge, the council's executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said the current national speed limit is unsuitable for such lanes.\n\nSpeaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, he said the 60mph limit was \"clearly not safe\" on these roads and warned that driving at such speeds risked \"very serious injury if not death to people\".\n\nBut supporters argued that the changes were about reflecting the reality of the roads rather than simply imposing blanket restrictions.\n\nThe council expects that, if approved, the first of the new 30mph limits could come into force later this year along the suggested roads.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **",
  "title": "Drivers risk seeing national speed limit cut from 60mph to 30mph under new proposals"
}