Plans to introduce 20mph speed limits in some streets in Beccles are due to be discussed by Suffolk County Council next week.

Eastern Daily Press: Northgate Street,residents are campaigning for a 20 mph limit on Northgate Street and Old Market, Beccles.Andrea Downes chair of Northgate neighbourhood scheme.Northgate Street,residents are campaigning for a 20 mph limit on Northgate Street and Old Market, Beccles.Andrea Downes chair of Northgate neighbourhood scheme. (Image: © Archant 2015)

The proposals would see the speed limit introduced on Northgate, St Benedict's Road, Ravensmere East, Fen Lane and Pound Road, replacing the current 30mph limit.

It would also cover Bridge Street between Northgate/Fen Lane and No.5, Becclesgate and Ravensmere between Northgate/Fen Lane and Pound Road.

Residents living on Northgate set up the Northgate Neighbourhood Society (NNS) a number of years ago and have been campaigning for some time to see a reduction in the speed limit.

NNS chairman Andrea Downes, who lives in Northgate, said a questionnaire was sent to every property on the road and of the 98pc response, 95pc were in favour of the 20mph limit.

This was presented to the county council who put the issue out for public consultation. It will now go to the Rights of Way Committee on Wednesday.

Miss Downes said: 'I have a boy who went to Ravensmere Arc pre-school and the children walk along this road and it's just dangerous.

'I was involved in a near miss a few months ago where a driver mounted the kerb and nearly went into a house when I was turning into my parking area.

'On an average day we have 3,513 vehicles travelling down Northgate and of these 76 are buses.

'Roads like this must be 20mph.'

Robin deVere Green, who also lives in Northgate, said: 'I think 30mph is far too fast for the width of the road and for the number of people who walk along here.

'Bearing in mind it is a tourist access route from the quay to the town centre, so we get a lot of people unfamiliar with the area using this road to walk along.

'Your shoulder is level with the kerb at some points and all the authorities we have met have been in favour - it's common sense.'

Beccles mayor Hugh Taylor, a former resident of Northgate who set up NNS, said the proposals had the support of Beccles Town Council and Waveney District Council.

He said: 'For many years people have been asking for Northgate to be 20mph.

'It is a road that encourages speed and you can very easily be doing 30, 35 or 40mph before you know it.

'It's a narrow road and people's front doors open directly on to the path.

'Noise is another factor with the increased speed and the impact that has on the people here, because virtually all properties are now residential.'

And Northgate resident Jane Thompson, who uses a mobility scooter, said that it is often very difficult to cross the road.

Members of the NNS and representatives of the town council will be at the meeting of the Rights of Way Committee which takes place at Endeavour House in Ipswich, at 10am.

Do you support the speed limit proposals? Write to Beccles and Bungay Journal Letters, 20 Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9TB or email bbj.letter@archant.co.uk with your name, address and contact number.