Eastbourne: Cross-party drive for more 20mph speed limits

East Sussex County Council said it supports 20mph speed limits where appropriate

A campaign to push for 20mph speed limits in an East Sussex seaside town has received cross-party support.

The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on Eastbourne Borough Council say they want to make the town safer.

One councillor said it was "incredibly frustrating" that the plans were being thwarted by East Sussex County Council.

The county council said it supports 20mph speed limits where appropriate, but "costly traffic management measures" would need be put in place.

A borough council motion calling for 20mph zones, where the local community supports them, was originally passed with cross-party agreement last year.

Eastbourne Borough Council cabinet member Jim Murray said: "It's no secret that as councillors from different parties we often don't agree on certain subjects being debated.

"So, when we do agree it's incredibly frustrating that we are being stopped from making the town a safer place to live.

"The recent sustainable transport summit in Eastbourne showed the strength of feeling about this and I hope the county council is listening."

'Costly traffic management'

Despite this, the proposal was not supported by East Sussex County Council, which is responsible for road and transport matters.

The county council said it supports 20mph speed limits "where appropriate".

An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said: "Whilst a 20mph speed limit can be effective with signs alone on roads where the average traffic speed is below 24.

"On roads where average speeds are higher there would need to be significant and costly traffic management measures put in place," they said.

"We recognise that the idea of 20mph speed limits are often well supported by local communities, but we have a finite amount of funding to develop local road safety and transport improvements."

Conservative MP for Eastbourne, Caroline Ansell is conducting a survey on her website to gauge public opinion on the proposed speed limit reduction.

"Reducing the speed limit has been considered in other areas but it does divide people," she said.

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