Southwold's roads could become a 20mph speed limit zone

Southwold Town Council's roads committee will be considering a range of measures to improve the traffic situation in the town, including implementing 20mph speed restrictions which have been panned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Other ideas being considered at the meeting on February 9 include introducing limited residents parking and traffic calming in the High Street.

READ MORE: Southwold roads could soon have 20mph speed limits

The roads committee has commissioned traffic surveys looking into the possibility of putting the limits in place all around the town.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Image: PA)

However, the county council does not allow for 20mph speed limits on A and B roads and therefore the committee is hoping an exception can be made so the limits can be applied to A roads with the A1095 being the main road into town.

As part of the proposed measures, the number of pedestrian crossings in the High Street could be reduced to save parking spaces.

READ MORE: Suffolk should introduce 20mph speed limit, says councillor

In September, Mr Sunak said he was "slamming the brakes on the war on motorists" and criticised the "blanket" implementation of 20mph zones, although he conceded it "made sense" to have 20mph restrictions near schools.

His comments came after the Labour-run Welsh government opted to drop the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads.

READ MORE: Southwold news

East Suffolk councillor David Beavan, who represents Southwold, is seeking new measures to ease congestion and improve pedestrian safety.

Southwold councillor David Beavan (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

He said the committee could potentially agree to implement all three of the proposals- the 20mph speed limit, limited residents parking and traffic calming.

In October, he told the EADT a 20mph speed limit in the town monitored by cameras would be a "big step forward".