Swaffham councillors request refund from Norfolk County Council after ‘misapprehension’ over 20mph zone plans

Councillors have requested a refund of their Parish Partnership contribution after a “misapprehension” regarding plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit in their town.

At last Wednesday’s full Swaffham Town Council meeting, Cllr Paul Zielinski said there had been some confusion regarding plans which were originally set to see the town become the first in Norfolk covered by a 20mph restriction.

It was revealed earlier this year that only one road would actually see any changes – an extension of the 20mph limit already in force on London Street to include the full length of the road up to the north end of Brandon Road.

That change came into effect at the end of February.

Last Wednesday, town councillors agreed to seek a refund of their Parish Partnership contribution made to Norfolk County Council.

This is a scheme which allows local authorities to make bids for highways improvement funding, with the county council providing 50% of the total cost of bids.

Cllr Lindsey Beech said she does not have “a lot of confidence” in Parish Partnership bids because of a previous experience which saw “a few bits of tarmac” put in place to supposedly improve a road.

Cllr Zielinski said: “It does call into question this little scheme they have got going on – what use is it going to be to anyone?”

An experimental traffic order will be monitored for the next few months, which the county council say will help determine whether the new 20mph zone is the “right solution” for Swaffham.

Campaigners in the town previously labelled the limited changes as “laughable and ridiculous”.