Westmorland and Furness communities could soon be able to make use of a new policy on the introduction of 20mph limits.

The council’s Highways and Transport Strategic Board has agreed that a policy be developed for when communities request a 20mph limit be implemented on the areas roads.

Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets, said: “Our communities want people to be respectful when they are travelling through their town or village and introducing a new 20mph policy is meeting a pledge that we have made, it is something that we have heard repeatedly from our communities that they want us to be doing.

“This will be a new policy that has come from the ground up and we know it has support from our residents.”

The aim is that the new policy will support the council’s three Locality Boards for Eden, South Lakeland and Furness decide whether or not to agree to community requests to reduce speed limits from 30mph to 20mph in residential areas, towns and villages.

Introducing 20mph limits in the correct places can promote safer roads, reduce congestion, reduce vehicle pollution and noise, enhance the environment for walking and cycling and support communities having a sense of place.

Research by the UK Transport Research Laboratory has shown that that you are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph, than if you are hit at 30mph.

If a child suddenly steps in front of a car, you are much less likely to seriously injure or kill them if you keep to a 20mph limit.

Each scheme will require a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce the reduced speed limit with informal consultation to be undertaken within the community to allow consideration and if necessary to address any valid concerns.

This announcement comes on the same day, Cabinet has agreed to a one-off additional fund of £300,000 for the scheme.