"TWENTY'S PLENTY IN DOWNHAM" say Lib Dems

3.37.24am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 31st Mar 2006

Local Liberal Democrat Campaigners Mike Deves, Toby Philpott and Len Woods are calling on the Government to introduce a default 20 mph zone in built up areas like Downham. This would not only improve road safety for residents, kids going to school and cyclists, but reduce the number of people injured and killed on our local streets.

The Lewisham side of the area, where there are three Liberal Democrat Councillors already, has 20 mph speed limits. Your local Liberal Democrats are launching a petition to the Council for the same to be done here.

Local Campaigner Lennard Woods said "Research has shown that the chances of being killed as a pedestrian when hit by a vehicle doubles when that vehicle is travelling between 30 and 35 mph. We need to reclaim the streets for residents and kids travelling to local schools by reducing the speed limit in residential areas like Downham".

Research also shows that most drivers do stick to speed limits in residential streets. If the speed limit were 20 mph this would reduce the need for traffic calming measures - benefiting Council Tax payers. It would also help Downham to have living streets once again and make them safer places for the young and elderly.