First London borough set for blanket 20mph limit

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The limit would replace the current 30mph maximum, under plans inspired by the Green Party.

The council's sustainable development select committee has voted in favour of the scheme, which will make Lewisham a guinea pig for the rest of the capital.

Borough mayor Sir Steve Bullock has endorsed the plan, which is the brainchild of Green councillor Sue Luxton.

She said the lower limit would be enforced by a ring of cameras, removing the need for costly road humps.

It also means humps in other parts of the borough, where 18 small-scale 20mph zones have been introduced already, can be phased out.

Miss Luxton said the move was essential to encourage walking and cycling, and would help clean the capital's air by encouraging a shift away from cars.

Three weeks ago Mayor Ken Livingstone said he wanted most of London to have a 20mph limit. He called on each of the capital's 33 local authorities to launch borough-wide safety zones after evidence that they cut accidents and injuries by half.

Until now boroughs have only been allowed to introduce 20mph in limited areas. Nearly 60 per cent of Lewisham is already covered by these small zones.

Transport for London has approved trials of wireless cameras. Boroughs will not have to install them but will get backing from TfL if they can prove there is a need. Major through-routes can be exempted from 20mph limits.

Miss Luxton said routes such as the South Circular Road may be exempt: "[20mph] would not apply to every road but it would be the norm. I'd like to see this go ahead in the next year or two."

Sir Steve added: "We are only going to crack this when we change the way people think. We need people to think the normal speed is 20mph, not 30mph."

Islington recently missed out on becoming the first council to introduce a borough-wide 20mph limit when proposals were defeated by one vote.

The AA has warned a blanket 20mph for London would hamper travel. It wants councils to introduce such zones only in sensitive or residential areas.