A ward councillor is calling for a 20mph zone to improve road safety around Milton conservation area in Southend.

Councillor Ray Davy (Con) wants to see the new lower limit put in force to complement speeding restrictions which have already been put in place.

At a meeting of the police, community and consultative group, he said: "The residents in that area campaigned for many years for road calming measures which were successfully implemented in 1998.

"The Government is now encouraging the 20mph limit and there is a compelling need for a 20mph limit in the conservation area. The area is near the town centre and has an infant school nearby which takes four-year-olds.

"There is also the Marigold Family Centre and a nursing home. Residents believe there is a firm case that the 20mph limit, supplemented with road calming measures, would be of benefit."

However Supt Mick Benning from Southend police said he had never had the case for a 20mph limit put to him before.

He said: "It would not be a police decision but we would be asked for our point of view. We would not support it unless there was evidence that it was for safety reasons."

Supt Benning also said any measures would have to be self-enforcing - not reliant on police - which means chicanes or speed bumps would have to be installed to force motorists to drive at 20mph.

He said: "Realistically, I think one could anticipate that if the conservation area were to be successfully, there would be many other areas in Southend which would want to go down the same route."

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