CIVIC chiefs in Southampton have been urged to introduce 20mph speed limits in a city community.

Labour city council bosses introduced a pilot 20mph area in Maybush in November – and now there are calls to introduce one in Harefield.

Harefield ward councillor and Conservative opposition leader Royston Smith says lowering the limit in the Dean Road and Cheriton Avenue area could improve safety for residents.

The Maybush scheme is understood to have cost £60,000 and the council will monitor its success over the coming weeks.

The area has had 20mph signs put up at its boundaries, as well as extra reminder signs and road markings.

The 20mph areas differ from 20mph “zones”, which use physical traffic calming measures such as speed humps and are more expensive to implement.

Cllr Smith says there has long been a problem with speeding motorists in Dean Road and Cheriton Avenue, and has called on Labour to introduce another 20mph area.

He says there is broad support from residents in the area for the measure.

He said: “It’s popular, it’s cheap, it’s safe and it’s cutting down on accidents – it’s not the panacea for everything but it would really help.

“Even if people don’t slow down to 20mph I think it will change the behaviour of many of them. Some people drive along those roads at 60 to 70 mph, so this would bring it down to a safer level.

“It would be a cheap option too, as all the council would have to do is change the signage.”