A petition to introduce a 20mph speed zone in the centre of Kenilworth has been submitted to Warwickshire County Council today.

The petition was submitted by Cllr Richard Dickson, and fellow Liberal Democrat Alison Insley.

The petition has received 500 signatures online and in person, meaning that the county council must respond to it.

At present the only 20mph area in Kenilworth is a temporary measure put in place for Warwick Road between the St John's roundabout and Abbey End.

Campaigners want a 20mph zone extended across the centre of the town to help increase safety and to encourage more shoppers and visitors to Kenilworth.

The area proposed is that bounded on either side of Warwick Road, up to Abbey Hill, and down to St John's Road. The full area enclosed by this can be seen in the graphic below.*

Campaigners have been speaking to residents as well as parents at local primary schools to gain support.

"The petition shows there's real appetite for a 20mph speed limit area in central Kenilworth, including residential areas and by schools, nurseries and older people's facilities," says Cllr Dickson.

"Thanks to everyone who signed the petition; this is the first step of many but the county council now has to decide how to take this forward."

Cllr Dickson has raised concerns on behalf of many residents that should only Warwick Road have a permanent 20mph speed limit then this would force traffic onto many of the town's side roads.

He added: "People's concern is that if you just leave a 20mph speed limit along Warwick Road, then an increasing number of people will start to use other ways to get in and around Kenilworth.

"That could include going past St John's Primary School, through residential areas, past St Nicholas Schools, the two nurseries on Priory Road as well as past Waverley Day Centre."

He also said that residents wanted a reduced speed limit, rather than speed bumps and tables.

Warwickshire County Council will in fact discuss the need for 20mph speed limits in town centres across the county at a full council meeting tomorrow.

• The area proposed is that bounded between Abbey Hill, Priory Road, Whateleys Drive, Waverley Road, Warwick Road to the St John's gyratory, St John's Street, Roseland Road, Mortimer Road, St Nicholas Avenue, Siddeley Avenue, Brookside Avenue, Forrest Road and Borrowell Lane and on Farmer Ward Road.