A NEW 20mph zone is set to be introduced in Hutton as part of North Somerset Council’s commitment to improving road safety and sustainable travel.

The formal notification order for the scheme (Traffic Regulation Order) will be advertised in Hutton from the week beginning Monday, July 22 for three weeks.

The scheme will be the 28th 20mph scheme since 2000 with recent zones including Wrington, Uphill, Nailsea, Clevedon (The Beach / Hill Road area), Weston (Baker Street), and Pill and Easton-in-Gordano.

A further scheme is also planned for Kenn Street, Kenn following consultation with residents this summer.

The 20mph zones support the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 by providing sustainable travel routes across the area to offer health and wellbeing benefits to residents and encourage more cycling and walking, as well as reducing car travel.

The Hutton zone aims to provide safer routes for walking, cycling and horse riding through the village with the introduction of 20mph limits (signs and lines) and a 20mph zone using traffic calming measures.

The scheme will also:

• Improve safety for those travelling throughout the village

• Provide safer access to the primary school in the centre of the village to enable safer walking for children

• Reduce the speed limit on Old Mixon Road from 40mph to 30mph.

A public consultation on the 20mph scheme was held in October 2023 and included a drop-in session and an online questionnaire.

Of the responses, 80 per cent were in favour of its introduction.

Cllr Hannah Young, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for active travel said: “We are delighted to be introducing a 20mph zone in Hutton that will provide a safer environment for people to move around the village on foot, wheel or horse.

“We have consulted with Hutton Parish Council, local ward members and community organisations including the school and residents, and there is huge community support for this project.

“We look forward to its completion and the positive impact it will have on the community as a whole.”

Cllrs Mike Solomon and Terry Porter, ward members for Hutton and Locking added: “We are pleased this scheme is finally coming to fruition as this will help to make Hutton safer for pedestrians and horse riders as many drivers dangerously race through the village.

"We will still be pushing to extend this scheme coming into and leaving the village. “ The scheme is set to be completed by October.