KENDAL Town Council have accepted the results of a public survey showing ‘clear support’ for mandatory 20mph limits on more of the town’s residential roads.

At their meeting on Monday councillors voted to look into the costs of slashing speed limits in parts of Kendal.

A public consultation on the issue, which drew 663 responses, showed that 60 per cent of people were in favour of 20mph limits on residential roads.

But there was insufficient support for a ‘blanket’ 20mph limit across Kendal as a whole – the preferred option of the 20’s Plenty for Kendal campaign group.

Addressing councillors at the meeting, campaigner Paul Houldsworth said the consultation response gave them a ‘rock solid mandate’ to lobby Cumbria County Council for more 20mph roads in the town.

He said: “We accept the argument for 20mph limits on main roads has not been won – not yet.

“But Kendal’s main roads are also residential roads and we have no intention of giving up on the people who live there.

“The survey result is not an aberration or a skewed, distorted outcome. We are delighted that your own analysis recognises that more 20mph areas will limit the increasing congestion in town and improve things for us when we drive.”

But two councillors voted against accepting the results of the survey, with Cllr John Veevers branding it ‘diabolical’.

“The number of people who responded accounts for 2.6 per cent of the population of the town,” he said.

“It’s irrelevant to expect the whole of Kendal to back something based on what 1.4 per cent of people want.”

Cllr Paul Bramham agreed, saying: “I haven’t met one person who agrees with it. I think most people complacently thought any sensible council would not adopt such an expensive proposal.”

But most councillors said their constituents were in favour of introducing more 20mph limits.

Cllr Sylvia Emmott said: “I’ve knocked on many doors on Kendal, and the safety of children is of paramount importance to most people.

“It’s not a huge number, but of the number who responded, 60 per cent wanted to reduce the speed limit for the safety of children and other vulnerable people.”

Cllr David Evans pointed out that, “It’s true that the sample size is relatively small, but in terms of the number of responses you tend to get for things like this, it’s actually quite high.

“My ward includes Aynam Road where the number of complaints about speeding is very substantial – and I believe there is clear support for this.”

Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Chris Hogg, said: “We’ve commissioned this research and once you have asked for people’s opinion it’s not council’s place to ignore it.”

A report to councillors said that 80 per cent of the respondents were over 40-years-old, with the highest proportion aged between 60 and 80. Just 8.5 per cent were in the 26-39 age group.

The town council voted to obtain a ‘robust estimate’ for the cost of implementing the proposal.