A police crackdown on speeding drivers in a town’s new 20mph zone snared seven motorists in just 45 minutes, with one caught at nearly twice the limit.

It follows complaints that drivers are regularly flouting the restriction in Bysing Wood Road, Faversham, which is part of a town-wide restriction introduced last year following a 20’s Plenty campaign.

The tickets were issued on September 12 and the action welcomed by town councillor Eddie Thomas, who was among those campaigning for the reduced limit.

But he says it is “concerning” that so many drivers were caught speeding in such a short space of time, suggesting the 20mph limit is being widely ignored by many drivers.

“It’s quite an open road and slightly downhill, but there’s still no excuse when the limit is clearly posted,” he said.

“Obviously the speed of traffic along the road is concerning people who have complained to police about it.”

The prevalence of 20mph speed limits in towns and villages is proving controversial in some areas, which some drivers have deemed unnecessary and business arguing that it is damaging for them.

The post about the speeding tickets on Swale Police’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, received mixed comments.

“20mph is a ridiculously slow speed and totally unnecessary for the whole town,” said one person.

“Outside schools, yes but elsewhere definitely no. By all means pick on the boy racers but not someone going about their day-to-day business.”

“I’m all for 20mph around schools absolutely but the road in question in the pictures should be 30mph all day and can be safely driven at 30mph,” said another.

However one social media user pointed out the implications of higher speeds in an accident.

“If a child runs out from behind a parked van and you hit it at 30mph, you’ll most likely kill it. Whereas, at 20 you won’t,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter whether the child is at fault for not looking, you’re speeding and therefore you, will have been responsible.”

Cllr Thomas insists the reduced speed limit makes it safer, while reducing traffic pollution, and is a key element of Faversham’s bid to become Kent’s first “walking and cycling town”.

This will see the introduction of a cross town walking route, resulting in stretches of pavement being widened and roads narrowed to help make the town more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists, prioritising them over vehicles.

The £1 million Faversham Cross Town Path project is a joint initiative by Faversham Town Council, Swale Borough Council and Kent County Council and funded through the government’s Active Travel England fund.

‘There’s still no excuse when the limit is clearly posted...’

The route will run from Lower Road, down South Road, through Cross Lane and Gatefield Lane and through the recreation ground.

The aim is to make the 20mph limit “self-enforcing”, says Cllr Thomas, adding: “It is simply not viable to have police with speed cameras on every street corner.”

But many traders say the money could be better spent across the town to help cope with the number of homes which are being built.

Faversham Traders’ Association chairman Tim Brown argues it would be sensible to spend cash on infrastructure, highlighting areas which need improvement.

He said: “There are two new estates which have been built along Whitstable Road into the main part of town. When you park up, it can take you five minutes to get across the road because there is so much traffic down there.

“It doesn’t sound like this scheme is going to help the town’s businesses or people from getting from A to B.”

Proposals for the new Faversham Cross Town Path will go on display in the town hall between November 18 and 26.

There will be no specific consultation on it but KCC will publish Traffic Regulation Orders for the changes, which people can comment on.