A campaign to create a citywide 20mph zone in Canterbury has been launched in a bid to clean up air pollution and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Labour's Mel Dawkins claims to have cross-party support from other councillors for the idea, following similar schemes being proposed across Kent.

But she admits it will take a long time to get approved, if at all, by Kent County Council and could cost up to £150,000.

“The aim is to connect up all the existing zones, effectively creating a whole city 20mph zone including the ring road and major routes in and out like New Dover Road and Whitstable Road,” she said.

“This will provide consistently throughout the city and bring speeds down.”

Cllr Dawkins argues that reducing the limit to 20mph will reduce pollution, especially from diesel vehicles, and cut the number of injuries from accidents.

She is working with the national 20’s Plenty campaign which has produced statistics to back up the claims.

Already she and supporters have set up stalls outside Waitrose and in St Dunstan’s in a bid to garner support, and says the response has been mixed.

“There will, of course, will be opposition but we are in the early stages where we need to work out boundaries and the point of transition when it becomes 20mph.

“It will take a long time to get through all the regulatory processes but will be worth it for the benefits.”

Similar 20mph schemes have been proposed in towns across the county, the most recent being for 44 roads in Margate.

In February, the reduced speed limit was implemented permanently across Faversham, after a 17-month trial. It followed a five-year ‘20’s Plenty’ campaign to get council bosses to back the initiative.

Ashford's first 20mph limit was approved for 40 roads in the Bybrook and Bockhanger area in June.

But such schemes do not always attract public support.

A 20mph zone across much of Tonbridge town centre was introduced in September 2020. But a consultation of 1,123 people found 74% objected to the idea of a town-wide scheme.

For more information on the Canterbury proposals, go to the Canterbury20mphcity Facebook page.