County towns to go 20mph?

Speed limits could be cut to 20mph in every town centre in the Shropshire Council area within five years, under a review announced today.

The authority is reviewing the 30mph limits in each of the 11 towns in its catchment area which do not currently have the lower restriction to determine exactly where the zones would cover.

Currently Shrewsbury, Cleobury Mortimer, Ludlow and Broseley are the only towns to have a 20mph limit within their centre, while Wem is due to have one in its High Street.

The changes are being considered as part of a wide-ranging review which could also see speed limits on at least a dozen rural roads cut from 60mph to 50mph.

And the speed limits in Sundorne Road, Battlefield Road, Ellesmere Road and Whitchurch Road, in Shrewsbury, could all be set at 30mph.

Limits are also under review in 55 villages and any proposed changes will go out to consultation. The results of the reviews are expected later this year.

Phil Crossland, assistant director of strategic highways and transportation at Shropshire Council, said: "Shropshire has a very good safety record and over the last ten years we have exceeded government targets and achieved on average a 60 per cent reduction in killed and seriously injured casualties. The government target was 40 per cent by 2010."

The only fresh proposal for residential areas is Vicarage Road in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury, which is due to have a 20mph speed limit.

The council has allocated £70,000 for urban speed management for this year, excluding the new limit for Wem High Street, a further £90,000 for rural roads and several hundred thousands of pounds for villages.