Councillors in Oswestry will consider calls to introduce more 20mph zones in the town centre at a meeting this week.

A motion set to be discussed on Wednesday, October 9 will debate a proposal to ask Shropshire Council to introduce wide-ranging lower speed limits “where people are living or shopping”.

Parts of the town centre including Church Street, Cross Street and part of Willow Street became 20mph zones in late 2021 as part of changes to the town’s one way system aimed at making the town safer for pedestrians.

Now, councillors will consider a suggestion to widen the scheme proposed by Green Party councillor Olly Rose ahead of the town council’s October summit.

“This Council has already previously made two motions in favour of 20mph speed restrictions in residential areas of Oswestry,” her motion will say.

“To-date Shropshire Council have implemented some zones outside schools and in the town centre. This is leading to an inconsistent approach which if continued will require a great many costly road signs and vehicles constantly accelerating and decelerating between speed limits.

“Children need to be safe on their whole route to and from school not just outside of the school gate.”

Last year, the previous Conservative UK government put the brakes on the introduction of some 20mph zones as part of its stated plan to tackle what it said was “over-zealous traffic enforcement”, which sought to capitalise on perceived opposition to traffic calming measures such as Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes.

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However the change of national government earlier this year means that policy guidance may no longer be in effect, with incoming Labour Transport Secretary Louise Haigh set to launch a new road safety strategy which it says will aim to “reduce tragic deaths and injuries on our roads”.

The motion set to be debated proposes that the town council writes to Shropshire Council in support of widening 20mph zones in Oswestry, alongside seeking support from North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan.

“I propose that the Town Council endorses for the third time it’s support for 20mph on a wide area basis and writes to Shropshire Council to encourage them to introduce this in Oswestry, where people are living or shopping,” the motion adds.

“Further, that the Council writes to the local MP seeking her support for this policy which has been shown to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.”

The motion will be discussed by Oswestry Town Council on Wednesday, October 9.`