Backing has been given for a 20mph speed limit petition to be progressed for a route in Maidstone.

People living in Bower Mount Road have signed the document and now councillors on the Joint Transportation Board have submitted it to Kent County Council.

It comes after Maidstone Green Party campaigner, Stuart Jeffery presented the petition which received ‘phenomenally strong support’ to councillors on the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board.

A total of 44 people signed the petition, which described the street, which has a 30mph limit, as a ‘cut through’ between the busy Tonbridge Road and London Road.

The road's proximity to children’s schools St Michael’s infants and junior schools and also Blue Sky Day Nursery and Pre-school has been a major concern for residents who fear vehicles travelling too fast could cause a serious accident.

Mr Jeffery said: “The evidence shows these limits reduce accidents and pollution making the road a better place to live and to walk along. We need to encourage walking and cycling and we can’t do that while vehicles are travelling too fast.

From 2016-2020, five incidents were recorded on the road and its surrounding streets of Oakwood road and Cornwallis road.

In relation to the petition, local resident, art tutor John Woodberry, 64, said: “I think that would be a good thing because they are building up the road.

"It’s very difficult to reverse out of the drives here because cars race down.”

Another resident, Jackie Taylor, said: “I am in favour of a speed limit or even speed humps, anything to slow the traffic down.”

“I think it would be a really good idea, a lot of children and very young children walk along here to school.”

Councillors at the meeting expressed their dismay at a similar petition for the Lower Fant area being ‘lost in the ether’.

The previous petition which received 800 signatures also intended to have the residential area converted to a 20 mph zone.