A FORMER Bradford on Avon town councillor is urging people to support plans for 20mph limits around the town, 15 years after starting his own petition.

Malcolm Hewson, who also served on the county council between 2001 and 2009, originally called for speed limits to be enforced around the town in 2002. Now, 15 years on, he is urging residents to support the limits, which are currently being considered by Wiltshire Council.

Mr Hewson said: “I still have the petition of 800 signatures that we collected 15 years ago – at a time when the idea of 20mph limits was considered father fanciful. But there has been a slow change of attitude, and particularly in Bradford on Avon people realise that speed does not reduce your journey time – it simply gets you closer to the car in front.

“People are also keenly aware of how intimidating traffic can be in our streets and estates.”

The current plans are at the second phase and there are hopes that they could be enforced by the summer after the consultation period with Wiltshire Council comes to an end.

“The proposals are not everything that all campaigners, including me, want. The proposals do not effectively cover the town centre, but they do cover areas where most people live and I urge everyone to write to Wiltshire Council to give their support,” added Mr Hewson.

Pam Hyde, chairman of the 20 miles an hour working group, has previously said that the current zones mapped out in the plans are only the start.

The complete lengths of Avon Close, Avonfield Avenue, Berryfield Road, Christchurch Road, Church Acre, Culver Road, Downavon, Elms Cross Drive, Greenland View, Huntingdon Rise, Junction Road, Kennet Gardens, Kingston Avenue, Leigh Park Road, Loddon Way, Mythern Meadow, Palmer Drive, Poulton, Pound Lane, Regents Place, Sladesbrook Close, Southleigh, Southville Close, Southville Road, St Aldhelm Road, St Laurence Road, St Margaret’s Hill, UC 805912 Frome Road, UC 826006 Frome Road, UC 826014 Road into Station, Upper Regents Park, Widbrook View will also have the limits if the plans are approved.

You can comment on the proposal in writing or via the Wiltshire Council website by Monday (March 27) quoting reference LJB/TRO/BRAD20.