The public will soon be able to have its say on proposals to reduce speed limits on several Norwich roads.

Norwich Evening News: The completion and opening of Norwich City Council’s new Rose Lane multi-storey car park in Mountergate. Cllr Mike Stonard. Photo : Steve AdamsThe completion and opening of Norwich City Council’s new Rose Lane multi-storey car park in Mountergate. Cllr Mike Stonard. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

Norwich City Council is proposing to cut speed limits to 20mph in residential areas surrounding the blue and yellow pedalway cycle routes in the city.

Roads which could be affected include Constitution Hill, Eaton Road, South Park Avenue, Sandy Lane, Woodcock Road.

The council says the reduction in speed will make the areas safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Members of the Norwich highways agency committee have now agreed to move ahead with a public consultation on the scheme.

However, they refused a request to include an option in the consultation to make Unthank Road and Bluebell Road 20mph areas.

Eaton Ward councillor Judith Lubbock said she welcomed the proposals, but was 'bitterly disappointed' the two roads were not included.

She said: 'We see the perfectly reasonable residential road like Unthank Road and it is nearly two miles long. Some is already 20mph, but there is a mile that isn't, it remains 30mph and I don't understand why.

'Why leave this road, when we have a lot of cyclists on it?'

A report which went before members on Thursday said Unthank Road was not suitable for a 20mph speed limit without 'extensive' traffic calming measures.

Joanne Deverick, the council's transportation and network manager, said the council had to consider the available budget.

She added: 'Areas where there is a school, or parades of shops, that is where we are proposing to target traffic calming.

'Of course there are people crossing on Unthank Road, but it doesn't have the same sort of frontage as the likes of Sandy Lane and Eaton Road.'

Research was carried out into average traffic speed on 19 stretches of road, as council officers assessed the viability of 20mph limits.

After taking mean speeds for each of these stretches, officers then assessed what they felt appropriate measures would be for each road.

Catton Grove Labour Councillor Mike Stonard said: 'I know from knocking on doors that lower speed limits in residential areas are hugely popular with local people.'

The consultation is planned to take place in late spring.