Speed limits outside schools in Maidstone should be cut to 20mph, the Green Party has claimed.

But Keith Taylor, the Green MEP for Kent, claims police are opposed to the move.

Mr Taylor is working with Maidstone councillor Tom Sams (Ind) and his wife Janetta Sams from Harrietsham, the chairman of Lenham Parish Council Cllr Nigel Godfrey, and Stuart Jeffery of the Maidstone Green Party to campaign for the reduced speed limits.

Mr Taylor will write a letter to the force’s Chief Constable, Ian Learmonth, to urge him to support the idea.

He says the speed limit zones had already been introduced in other parts of his constituency, but he claims Kent Police are blocking proposals for the move.

In Chatham a whole estate has introduced the 20mph limit. Reduced speed limits outside schools have also been imposed in Oxford and Portsmouth.

Mrs Sams, a former Maidstone councillor, presented a petition with 100 signatures to Maidstone council’s joint transportation board calling for the reduced limits.

Mr Taylor, who is responsible for road safety issues on the European Parliament Transport Committee, said: “Both Oxford and Portsmouth have shown 20mph residential streets reduce the speed of traffic without the need for other traffic calming measures.

“The government’s advice on 20mph zone is also very clear, however there is still resistance from both Kent County Council and Kent Police to implement these sensible changes.

“I can’t think of anything more reasonable than reducing the speed limits around schools, yet there seems to be little enthusiasm to do this despite the overwhelming support of local people.

“The facts are clear, a pedestrian hit by a car travelling at 20mph is likely to suffer slight injuries, but at 30mph they are likely to be severely hurt.

“At 40mph or above they are likely to be killed.”

“I will be writing to Mr Learmonth asking for Kent Police to consider this again.”

A police spokesman said "police enforce speed limits but do not set them".

She added: "Road safety and casualty reduction initiatives are normally done in partnership with a range of relevant bodies so whilst the local authority leads on speed limits, it's more likely to provide a joint or joined up response because there will be a consultation process."