A road safety campaigner has given her backing to calls for 20mph speed limits to be introduced on residential streets in Marsh.

Anna Semlyen, from the organisation 20’s Plenty, told a public meeting about the benefits of implementing 20mph limits on the majority of residential roads.

She said many local authorities in the UK have adopted the 20mph limit as the default speed limit on streets where people live, and said more councils are now acknowledging that the old 30mph limit is no longer fit for purpose on residential roads.

About 50 people were at the meeting, which was organised by the Marsh Community Forum.

They heard that more than 15 million people now live in streets where the maximum speed limit is 20mph.

READ MORE: The slowest roads in Kirklees revealed — did your commute make the top ten?

READ MORE: Public meeting to discuss campaign for 20mph zones in Marsh

In 2015 Calderdale Council voted to implement 20mph on residential streets by 2017, partly funded using the public health budget.

Anna presented material showing that 20mph speed limits reduce risks to vulnerable road users and make it easier for people to use healthier and sustainable modes of transport.

She said neighbourhoods with lower traffic speeds benefit from an improved social environment with easier road crossing and safer conditions for children to play.

The forum has already voted to campaign for Kirklees Council to introduce 20mph limits in the Marsh, Edgerton and Gledholt areas, and the meeting voted unanimously to continue the campaign.