INTRODUCING a 20mph speed limit on Fordingbridge’s high street could be explored in the future.

At a meeting of Fordingbridge Town Council on Wednesday a resident, who recently moved to the town, asked whether a reduction in the speed limit in the high street from 30mph to 20mph could be considered.

He said: “Having moved in to Fordingbridge and having seen the main summer, the sheer volume of traffic and the narrowing pavements in the street, I just wondered whether a 20mph speed limit would be quite practical, not across the entire thoroughfare, but certainly maybe from the bridge just past the town hall, around the bend and maybe up to the post office.

“A 20mph would be safer not just for vehicles but I’m thinking more for pedestrians.”

He said in Surrey a voluntary speed limit had been promoted with the strapline “20 is plenty”.

He asked whether something voluntary could be considered or promote the 20 is plenty message to make people think.

Fordingbridge mayor, Cllr Malcolm Connolly, said the matter had previously been discussed by the town council.

Hampshire county councillor Edward Heron said previously 20mph speed limits could not be put in place unless the area had measures or a change of circumstance like shared space areas but explained this had changed.

He said Hampshire County Council had been running 10 pilots of 20mph speed limits in “various different circumstances”.

He said the pilots were due to come to an end soon and he would return to the town council with an update.

“Once we have the results and information it may well be worth exploring again,” he said.

Cllr Rosemary Fulford said there was a lack of pedestrian crossings in the town and there were issues for elderly people, especially those leaving Avonway Community Centre and the nearby care home. She said people had a “nightmare” crossing.

Cllr Fulford said: “Again it is something we raise again from time to time.

“This time it looks as though there is some possibility.”

New Forest District Councillor Ann Sevier said the 20 is Plenty idea had been trialled in Hampshire.

The mayor, Cllr Malcolm Connolly, said the council would revisit the matter.

He added: “The best course of action is to wait for the information.”