Enfield Green Party is pleased Enfield Council is making “positive noises” about introducing a 20mph limit in parts of Winchmore Hill.

The party gathered 700 signatures on a petition calling for the speed limit to be lowered from 30mph to 20mph along the full length of Hoppers Road and the residential streets between Hoppers Road and Green Lanes.

The petition was handed to Enfield Council's cabinet member for environment, Councillor Chris Bond, last week for consideration

Douglas Coker of Enfield Green Party said: “The council has made positive noises so far. Some people were grabbing the petition out of my hands – there is a real momentum building up for 20mph zones, and not just in Enfield.”

Enfield Green Party would eventually like to see a 20mph speed limit imposed on all residential roads in the borough.

Mr Coker said lowering the speed limit is important for improving safety levels as well as the quality of life for people living in the area – especially for children wanting to play outside.

He said: “You can’t just focus on trying to cut down on accidents and deaths, it is also about trying to go back to a time where a car doesn’t dominate so much and children can play outside again without being terrified of cars.”

If the new speed limit is passed, the party would like to see it enforced using signage painted on the road surface rather than speed bumps, which can be unpopular with drivers.

Jean Robertson-Molloy, of Enfield Green Party, who lives in Arlow Road, is also campaigning for the speed reduction.

She walks down Hoppers Road every day and is concerned about the amount of drivers who break the 30mph speed limit.

Out of 68 cars which drove past her during a two or three-minute walk down Hoppers Road – 38 drivers broke the speed limit.

She believes painted road signs will be enough to encourage drivers to slow down and speed bumps are not necessary to enforce the proposed zone.

Despite hearing the council will consider the petition, she said she is “not terribly” confident the speed limit will be imposed on all roads suggested.

Cllr Bond, who is considering the petition, said: "We'll go away and look at the practicalities of these proposals and see if there is a need to introduce a 20mph zone or other speed restrictions in the area.

"We're always willing to listen to residents' views and look closely at the issues they raise and this is no exception, we take road safety very seriously and I'm pleased we can work with residents and other political parties to put people's minds at rest where road safety in concerned."