A traffic chief has called for all 60mph roads to be made 40mph zones in a bid to cut road deaths and accidents.

The plea comes amid plans to prioritise possible speed limit changes on Colchester's roads - nearly all of which have met with police objections.

About 30 requests for speed reductions have been lodged with Colchester Council's traffic team and nearly all of them are in rural areas.

Only one of them - an extension of the 40mph limit on the B1022 in Birch between Post Office Cottages and Heckfordbridge - is likely to be agreed automatically after a petition was presented.

The news has been welcomed by Birch Parish Council, which campaigned to get the speed-limit restrictions there extended.

That is because the rest of the suggestions have come up against police objections, as they are outside current police policy guidelines.

Chris Arnold, the council's portfolio holder for environment and transport, said he wanted a change in attitude on de-restricted country roads.

He said: "The default speed limit is 60mph on a country lane. I would like to see the speed brought down to 40mph for all those de-restricted roads not signed as something else.

"What you need is a shift in attitude.

"Road deaths have been falling steadily and I'm sure reducing speeds when and where they need to be reduced is part of that - though it doesn't just come with road signage."

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002