Midsomer Norton Town Council will be asking for residents views on cutting the speed limit across the town to 20mph.

The council discussed the speed limits when they debated a request to lower the speeds in Redfield Road.

There was a long debate among councillors who discussed whether cutting speeds to 20mph did result in fewer numbers of pedestrians being killed.

Cllr Gordon Mackay challenged a report that is widely spread that it lures pedestrians into thinking they are safer to cross roads and therefore the numbers killed by cars actually increases. He said: " This report has been widely discredited. It is fake news. I believe it also might have been written by people pushing their own agenda.

"Of course cutting speeds is a good thing. It is safer, it is better for parents like me who walk their children to school, right now I can't hear them speak because cars are driving so fast past us. Slow cars down, it is better for everyone."

The finance meeting was told by Cllr Steve Plumley that Midsomer's twin town Ambarès-et-Lagrave that it has a slower speed limit across all the roads and all the traffic moves smoothly.

The mayor Cllr Michael Evans expressed concern that if speeds were lowered on just a few roads in Midsomer Norton " where will it stop".

Anna Semlyen, 20's Plenty for Us National Campaign Manager, told Nub News : "20mph limits as a wide area scheme are safer, cleaner, greener, cost effective and better for everyone than 30mph limits. Public health experts agree they are needed. 20mph is soon to be mandated by the World Health Organisation -WHO as global best practise."

Residents will be asked for their views in the regular council newsletter, or they can put comments on the Town Council website, which is currently being reviewed to make it easier for users to access the site. You can find it via the red button.

Following feedback from residents an application will be made to BANES who are responsible for installing speed cameras.