UPDATE 11 September 2025
In response to concerns raised by Saltford Parish Council and local residents, B&NES Council has requested that Curo install “New 30mph speed limit in force” signage at both ends of the A4 — in Saltford and Keynsham — to alert motorists to the change in speed limit.
At SPC’s request, and recognising the high volume of traffic using the A4 Bath Road, B&NES Council’s Traffic Management team is also working with its Communications team to promote awareness of the new speed limit via social media and other public channels.
SPC thanks B&NES Council for taking these concerns seriously and for helping to raise awareness of the new speed limit through improved signage and wider communications.
UPDATE 2 September 2025
Update on the A4 Bath Road speed limit (between Saltford and Keynsham): SPC’s been in contact with B&NES Council since concerns were raised about communications on the speed limit change.
B&NES Council (as the Highways Authority) has confirmed that all current on-road signage is legally compliant.
That said, Saltford Parish Council has asked B&NES to issue clearer public communications to help raise awareness of the new 30mph limit (down from 40mph), especially to support road safety. They’re considering SPC’s request, and we’ll keep you posted when we hear more.
In the meantime – please do stick to the 30mph limit along this stretch!
As context, a reduction to the 40mph speed limit was requested by B&NES highways department during the technical approval review of S278 designs following the permitted Planning Permission (20/02673/OUT), as consulted on by B&NES Council this summer. This was to facilitate a new access road onto the A4. This is detailed in the article below.
Curo works on the development are due to begin next week (8 Sept) in the new 30mph section of A4 in Keynsham. Information can be found about these planned roadworks in SPC’s article at https://www.saltfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/curo-works-on…/.
Curo is working closely with the B&NES Streetworks team to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. A 24/7 contact number – 0370 050 0797 – will be available for any urgent concerns throughout the construction period.
UPDATE 1 September 2025
Saltford Parish Council is aware of concerns about the lack of clear signage following the recent speed limit reduction on the A4 between Saltford and Keynsham, from 40mph to 30mph.
Clear signage is essential for keeping road users informed and safe. SPC and a B&NES Ward Councillor have contacted B&NES Council (the Highways Authority) to request improved signage, e.g. additional 30mph signs, ‘New Speed Limit’ signs etc.
We’re pleased to share that a site visit is now taking place by B&NES Council to assess the concerns raised. Once an update is provided we’ll share any further information.
Thanks to everyone who has raised this issue – and a reminder to all drivers: it’s now 30mph on this stretch of road! (A copy of this message was also posted on our social media and displayed on our website on Thursday 28 August).
Image shows section of A4 Bath Road where the new speed limit of 30mph is in place. SPC has requested signage to reflect the new speed limit at this location.
UPDATE 27 August 2025
Saltford Parish Council (SPC) was not notified by B&NES Council during the post-consultation stage for Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) 24-031 (during the ‘Additional Comments from Ward Members and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery) prior to the order being sealed (i.e. legally confirmed), so was unaware that the TRO consultation had reached this stage of the process. SPC was also not notified when the TRO was formally sealed, nor informed of its outcome: that from 1 August 2025, the speed limit on the relevant section of the A4 Bath Road would be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.
SPC only became aware of the decision through external communications. Upon learning of this, the Parish Council contacted B&NES Council to flag the lack of engagement, including the failure to inform SPC of the final decision.
This followed an earlier instance in which SPC had not been notified when the consultation for TRO 24-031 first opened — an oversight that led to a time extension for SPC to submit its response (see article below for details).
In response to its latest enquiry, SPC was subsequently provided with confirmation from B&NES Council that the TRO had been sealed, including details of the speed limit change taking effect from 1 August. However, due to the delay in communication, SPC was not in a position to inform residents in advance of the speed limit coming into force. SPC has today posted on social media to raise attention of the new speed limit to residents and users of the A4 between Saltford and Keynsham.
Saltford Parish Council (SPC) is aware of local concerns regarding the lack of signage highlighting the recent speed limit change from 40mph to 30mph on this section of road. It has been brought to SPC’s attention that both a local resident and a Saltford B&NES Ward Councillor have contacted B&NES Council, the Highways Authority, requesting clearer signage to ensure road users are properly informed of the new speed limit.
SPC has shared its concerns with B&NES Council about how Parish Councils are kept informed on Traffic Regulation Orders, and we’re pleased to say that improvements to the process are now being made.
UPDATE 2 July 2025 – SPC’s response to TRO 24-031
Saltford Parish Council discussed and resolved its response to TRO 24-031 at its July 2025 meeting. SPC thanks those members of the public who took the time to attend the meeting and address the Parish Council on this matter during ‘Public Time’.
Following Councillor’s discussion under Item 12 on the July 2025 agenda, the Parish Council resolved the following response: ‘SUPPORT – On safety grounds’. The resolution was passed unanimously by all Parish Councillors in attendance at the meeting.
SPC’s Draft July 2025 minutes will be published c. 1 week following the meeting (around Wednesday 9 July). Please view our noticeboard and ‘Meetings – Agendas and Minutes‘ page.
The lack of direct consultation with SPC by B&NES Council on permanent TROs was also raised at the meeting. Today SPC received information that it had been omitted in error by B&NES Council on its TRO consultation list for Keynsham and Saltford, and received assurances that this issue had been resolved. SPC also welcomed B&NES Council’s actioning SPC’s suggestion to email permanent TRO information to all Parish Councils as well as all B&NES Ward Councillors, to ensure that Parish Councils were consulted.
SPC recognises it is the responsibility of B&NES Council to conduct TRO consultations. SPC will endeavour to continue to raise to residents’ awareness about permanent TRO consultations (as below and on social media) and have these on its agendas, should B&NES Council directly share TRO consultation information with Saltford Parish Council.
UPDATE 30 June 2025
To view the consultation information for Traffic Regulation Order 24-031 please view the updated link (as shared last week) at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-order/24-031-a4-bath-road-0
To search for this information on the the B&NES Council website page for TROs, B&NES Council has advised residents to visit https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-regulation-orders and type in the ref. no. ‘TRO 24-031’ into the search field (top right hand corner) then scroll down to click ‘apply’, and the information will show.
SPC was made aware by a resident that it was not possible to find information for TRO 24-031 on the B&NES Council website at ‘Traffic Regulation Order public notices – Notices for permanent and temporary Traffic Regulation Orders‘ over the past weekend. SPC approached B&NES Council, and was given the information above on how to find the information on its website.
SPC is aware that B&NES website information is published to supplement the statutory publication on site (physical notices). The end date for the consultation remains as 2 July 2025.
UPDATE 26 June 2025
Information now available again on the B&NES Council website, please view https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-order/24-031-a4-bath-road-0 . (Previous link shared by B&NES Council no longer working, new link has been added to the article below).
UPDATE: 25 June 2025
Saltford Parish Council was made aware today that the link shared by B&NES Council for TRO 24-031, as below in this article, was showing as ‘Access Denied’ once clicked. Saltford Parish Council contacted B&NES Council to request that the link was reinstated ASAP.
SPC was informed by B&NES Council that the link would be available again by the end of today (25/06/25).
If any members of the public requires information in the meantime, this can provided by B&NES Council via email to TROs@bathnes.gov.uk . Please quote the quote the scheme reference 24-031 (A4 Bath Road , 30MPH Speed Limit).
The consultation end date remains as 2 July, as extended at SPC’s request from 19 June 2025. SPC will have TRO 24-031 as an item on its Tuesday 1 July 2025 agenda.
UPDATE: 11 June 2025
At Saltford Parish Council’s request, as made to B&NES Council (the Highways Authority), confirmation has been received today that a time extension to respond to the consultation on the proposed 30mph Speed Limit order on the A4 Bath Road, Keynsham & Saltford (TRO 24-031) has been extended from the published date of the 19 June until the 2 July 2025.
This enables Saltford residents a full 21 days to respond following SPC raising awareness of the consultation via its website and social media on 9 June, and addresses the concerns raised by SPC that it was not informed that the consultation had opened on 29 May 2025.
Please find information about the consultation, and how to respond, below and on the B&NES Council website at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-order/24-031-a4-bath-road-0 . Please note that the notice and documents will still state the 19 June end date.
This time extension to respond allows the Parish Council to discuss and resolve its view to the TRO 24-031 consultation at its Tuesday 1 July meeting. The meeting will be held in the Avon Room at Saltford Hall, and will start at 7:15pm. Residents are welcome to attend, and speak on agenda items that the Council will resolve a view on during ‘Public Time’ which will include the consultation for TRO 24-031. SPC’s resolved view will then be made later at the meeting, and members of the public are welcome to stay and listen to the Council’s discussion and decision.
SPC’s July agenda will be made available on our ‘Meetings – Agendas and Minutes‘ page in advance of the meeting (usually the Thursday preceding the Tuesday meeting). This page also has information about speaking at a meeting, please see the link to ‘Public Engagement Guidelines’.
Original article dated 9 June 2025:
Saltford Parish Council was informed by B&NES Council today (9 June) that Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation 24-031 for Saltford and Keynsham had opened on 29 May 2025. The 21 day consultation period will end on 19 June 2025. [Edited on 11 June – the consultation period will now end on 2 July 2025, see above]
Saltford Parish Council encourages residents to respond directly to B&NES Council, the Highways Authority, about the proposal to reduce the speed limit on the A4 Bath Road in Saltford and Keynsham from 40mph to 30mph.
Map taken from B&NES Council’s Approval to Publicly Advertise the TRO document dated 30 April 2025. Image shows the section of the A4 Bath Road through Saltford and Keynsham currently under consultation for a proposed speed limit reduction from 40mph to 30mph.
View TRO documents on B&NES website
TRO documents can be viewed on the B&NES Council website at https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/traffic-order/24-031-a4-bath-road-0
Please see the ‘Site Notice’ document on the page linked above to view the image as follows:
How to respond to the TRO consultation
Objections and representations with respect to the proposal, together with the grounds on which they are made, must be sent in writing by 19 June [Edited on 11 June – the consultation period will now end on 2 July 2025, see above] to B&NES Council at the following addresses:
Traffic Management Team, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Lewis House, Manvers Street, BATH, BA1 1JG
or
Email: TROs@BATHNES.GOV.UK
Please quote the title of the proposal and the reference as shown above (TRO 24-031) in any objections and representations.
Why was this consultation not discussed at SPC’s June meeting?
Saltford Parish Council (SPC) was not informed by B&NES Council that a TRO consultation in Saltford had opened on the 29 May 2025. SPC was first informed by B&NES Council, at a Saltford Ward Councillor’s request, today (Monday 9 June 2025).
As SPC was not aware that a public TRO consultation for Saltford and Keynsham had opened, unfortunately it was not able to have the consultation for TRO 24-031 as an agenda item to resolve at its 3 June 2025 meeting.
TRO consultations are usually open for 21 days. The end date for consultation TRO 24-031 is 19 June 2025. This means that the consultation end date falls before SPC’s next full council meeting on 1 July 2025.
As SPC was not aware that TRO 24-031 was pending, though an information consultation had taken place in April, it was unable to prepare for the TRO consultation as usual should a consultation period fall between its scheduled meetings. When SPC is aware of a pending TRO consultation period of 21 days, it aims to have this on an agenda (E.g. SPC’s approach in these circumstances as shown under Item 17 on SPC’s June draft minutes, for a pending consultation on proposals for Double Yellow Lines in Saltford and Keynsham – TRO review 25-027).
In consideration of the above and in line with the Parish Charter, Saltford Parish Council contacted B&NES Council on 9 June to request a time extension to respond to the consultation on the speed limit on the A4 Bath Road between Saltford and Keynsham (TRO 24-031) following its 1 July 2025 meeting. SPC awaits a response from B&NES Council. [Edited 11 June – the consultation period will now end on 2 July 2025 following a response from B&NES Council, see above]
This webpage will be updated should a time extension be granted to SPC and/or all respondents. SPC viewed that Saltford residents may also have been unaware of the TRO consultation opening on 29 May, and in consideration of this that an extended time period to respond would be welcomed by residents.
At the time of writing, residents are strongly advised to respond by the publicised 19 June 2025 end date should they wish to comment on the consultation about the speed limit on the A4 Bath Road between Saltford and Keynsham (TRO 24-031). SPC will assume this end date as set by B&NES Council remains unless advised otherwise.
B&NES Council’s reason for the consultation, as follows:
A reduction to the 40mph speed limit has been requested by B&NES highways
department during the technical approval review of S278 designs following the
permitted Planning Permission (20/02673/OUT). This is to facilitate a new access
road onto the A4.
There has been increased development along this section of the A4 in recent years
which has changed the character of the road, such that a 30mph is now
appropriate. This reflects a safer speed given the level of traffic and roadside
activity taking place.
The Council has had in mind and discharged the duty (as set out in section 122(1)
of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984) to secure the expeditious, convenient and
safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) so far as
practicable. It has also had regard to the factors which point in favour of imposing a
30 mph speed limit. It has balanced the various considerations and concluded that
it is appropriate to promote a reduced speed restriction on the A4 Bath Road. The
Council has also considered and discharged its network management duty under
section 16 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. It has concluded that the proposed
30 mph speed limit is consistent with that duty, having regard to its other policies
and objectives.