The first steps toward introducing a towns-wide 20mph speed limit zone have been taken in a bid to reduce injuries and deaths on the roads.

Councillors say a pilot scheme across Medway needs to start and the idea will now be put to the authority's cabinet to decide whether to accept the proposals.

Support was agreed after a cross-party scrutiny committee met to consider a proposal by Labour opposition members to establish a pilot zone.

Chatham Central ward member Cllr Harinder Mahil (Lab) says 20mph zones are an important measure to help reduce the number of incidents and injuries on roads.

He said: "It is vital that we continue to assess the progress the council is making in terms of tools to reduce casualties on our road networks, as unfortunately injuries and fatalities are far too common.

"Only a few years ago I witnessed an incident outside Holcombe Grammar School where a child was seriously injured, and not too far from the same spot there was another accident last month.

"Tools like the 20mph pilot zone are at our disposal. It is important that as a council we are doing all we can to make our roads as safe as possible."

A report will now be prepared for cabinet members to consider whether to proceed further by setting up a trial and approve the recommendations from January's Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.

The pilot zone should cover "a neighbourhood with multiple schools in order to assess the impact and effectiveness of 20mph zones in Medway".

The group says evidence has proven to show 20mph zones in place elsewhere show average speeds are reduced and leading to fewer deaths and serious injuries in those areas.

Labour said the scheme is "cost-effective" as implementing the zones do not require "a great deal of expensive engineering solutions".

Cllr Andy Stamp, Labour spokesman for regeneration and communities, said: "The simple fact is that you are five times less likely to die if you’re hit at 20mph than if you’re hit at 30mph.

"I’m really pleased to see our proposal for a 20mph pilot zone in Medway receive cross party support.

"Tools like the 20mph pilot zone are at our disposal and we must do we can to make our roads as safe as possible..."

"As a council, we must do the right thing and invest in evidence-based approaches to road safety, which will ultimately save lives.

"I am hopeful that the cabinet will consider approving the recommendations."

During the latest full council meeting, Cllr Mahil questioned Cllr Phil Filmer, cabinet member responsible for transport and roads, on the work being carried out to improve road safety and the possible introduction of 20mph zones.

Cllr Filmer did not respond directly on the point about a 20mph zone but said: "The council works all year round to enhance road safety and reduce casualties on Medway's roads.

"We continually promote road safety and share advice particularly in schools. This helps equip young people with valuable road safety skills.

"We also make physical changes to roads to attempt to reduce road casualties. We do this in a targeted way by prioritising our interventions."

He added recent road safety records at the junction of Maidstone Road and Walderslade Road near Holcombe Grammar School was "good" in the past three years involving pedestrians.

But more recent incidents, including one in December leading to the injury of a child, was "distressing".

He said this would be included in investigations and "taken into account as part of the ongoing work to reduce road casualties on Medway roads".

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