Gloucestershire County Council is asking Cheltenham residents to shape plans that could bring 20mph speed limits to residential streets across the town and safety upgrades to eight busy junctions in the centre. The engagement, which opened on 17 May, runs until midnight on Friday 19 June and invites feedback through an interactive map and online survey.
Over the past five years, 790 road casualties have been recorded in and around Cheltenham, with 25 per cent of those involved killed or seriously injured. The statistics show 58 per cent of incidents happened on minor roads and 77 per cent on roads with 30mph limits, compared to just 2 per cent where 20mph limits were already in place. Vulnerable road users — pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists — made up 57 per cent of those hurt. Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, said keeping people safe on the roads was one of the council’s top priorities and the proposals aimed to reduce speeds where it mattered most.
As well as lower limits on residential streets in Cheltenham and five neighbouring parishes — Swindon Village, Leckhampton with Warden Hill, Prestbury, Charlton Kings and Up Hatherley — a separate town centre scheme targets eight junctions for engineering changes. These include upgraded pedestrian crossings, signalised crossings, cycle infrastructure and raised crossing points at locations such as the A4019 Tewkesbury Road and Gloucester Road junction, the Ambrose Street and High Street mini roundabout, and the Promenade’s junction with St George’s Road and Imperial Square. If residents show broad support, a formal Traffic Order consultation is expected in autumn 2026.
Pop-up events will be held outside Cornish Bakery on the High Street on Wednesday 3 June and at Montpellier Gardens on Wednesday 10 June, with an online webinar on 9 June for those who cannot attend in person. The county council has said the first tranche of locations was chosen through a prioritisation exercise after parish councils including Charlton Kings and Prestbury submitted expressions of interest citing high casualty rates and the need for safer streets where people live, shop and travel.
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