Speed limit could be cut to 20mph across town

There are calls for a 20mph speed limit across an entire town - if people there give their blessing.

Narrow pavements and winding streets in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, lead to road safety risks, according to the Lib Dem councillor for the area.

Wiltshire Council cabinet member, Gavin Grant, said the limit already applies to the centre of the town but thinks it would be "advantageous" across the town.

"If you're driving at 20mph and someone steps out in front of you, you have a very good chance of stopping and not hitting them. If you're driving faster than that, I'm afraid the likelihood of you causing serious injury goes up, and there's simply no need for it," he said.

He added: "Our streets are narrow, our pavements are narrow, there are lots of children, older people and pets about."

Grant said 20mph speed limits in built-up areas are a priority for the local authority.

Elsewhere in Wiltshire, Marlborough recently rolled out new 20mph speed limits in several of the town's streets. There, Conservative councillor Jane Davies said the changes would highlight "the risks on the road" and were not "about bashing drivers".

And in nearby Sherston, the village had its speed limit reduced from 30mph to 20mph after residents raised concerns about being "at the mercy of motorists".

In Malmesbury, Grant is keen to stress that the 20mph plans are very much at an initial consultation phase.

"At the moment, I'm listening to what residents are saying to me. I think the response frankly is that most people would welcome it," he said.

"They can't see why people would want to drive faster than that [20mph]. We want to encourage walking and cycling because it is a good thing to do, so the traffic needs to move more slowly."

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