Norfolk village 20mph zone has been unenforceable for years

Norfolk County Council has only just started consultation over the 20mph zone covering five roads in Stoke Holy Cross, despite having the signs in place since at least 2021.

Broomefield Road in Stoke Holy Cross (Image: Google Street View)

This means that the 20mph restrictions have not been enforceable all this time because the orders needed to be in place to allow the limit to be enforced were never placed.

They are only just being advertised now.

Stoke Holy Cross (Image: Mike Page)

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said: "The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) was launched to formalise the speed limit for the development.

"The majority of new housing developments require a 20mph zone as part of their planning conditions.

"For these types of TROs, the installation of the 20mph signs is carried out directly by the developer and this means they are sometimes in place before the speed limit is formalised.

"We will take note of any feedback received during the consultation period."

Police say they do not "routinely enforce" 20mph limits and zones, unless persistent speeding is reported.

The issue of enforcement was raised at a meeting of Norfolk County Council's people and communities committee in March.

Conservative chairman James Bensly agreed to write to the police raising concerns over what the force was doing to monitor 20mph zones and catch speeders.

James Bensly (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

Following the meeting, Norfolk police confirmed 75 offences had been recorded on county roads with 20mph limits and within 20mph zones between January last year and March 14 this year.

The force said 22 of those resulted in fixed penalty notices of £100 fines for drivers, plus three points on their licences.

Others resulted in actions such as educational courses or disqualification, depending on the driver.

Department for Transport guidance states successful 20mph zones and 20mph speed limits should be "generally self-enforcing" and there "should be no expectation on the police to provide additional enforcement beyond their routine activity".

People can take part in the Stoke Holy Cross consultation at www.norfolk.citizenspace.com until Tuesday, June 18.