Green Party campaigners have handed a 346-signature petition to Maidstone council, calling for road safety improvements in Fant.

In particular, they want to see a 20mph speed limit in Bower Place, Upper Fant Road, Gatland Lane and Glebe Lane, mirroring calls this week by MPs on the Transport Select Committee for more 20mph zones in town centres.

The petition will also go to Kent County Council’s next full council meeting.

Stuart Jeffery, the Green Party’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Maidstone and the Weald, said: “We hope the borough will use its role on the joint transportation committee to increase pressure on KCC to adopt lower speed limits.”

He said party members had collected signatures during August and September by knocking on every door in the area.

The petition contained a straw poll of suggested measures to tackle the problems caused by the speed and volume of traffic.

Of those responding, 72 per cent wanted a 20mph speed limit, 43 per cent wanted the Tonbridge Road end of Glebe Lane closed and 37 per cent wanted Bower Place closed at the Tonbridge Road end.

Earlier this month, KCC announced that it was prepared to proceed with a package of calming measures for Gatland Lane and Fant Lane, including a safety island and speed bumps, but not a reduced speed limit.

Mr Jeffrey said: “Those measures address a small part of our campaign, but the issues are much bigger than that.”