Up to £10,000 will be spent on a feasibility study to help make Warwick Road safer and to make residents of the Pavilions development feel more connected to the town.

In December residents submitted a petition to Warwickshire County Council calling on members to "see sense" and move the 30mph speed limit past the entrance to the estate.

Residents also wanted more street lighting and better cycling provision.

At a meeting of Kenilworth Town Council last night unanimous approval was given for the study which will be completed by the county council within the next three months.

Whilst town and county councillor Cllr Rik Spencer had initially suggested that a roundabout would be a perfect solution to the problem, the study will actually investigate:

• The extension of the Street Lighting along Warwick Road to Wilkshire Road.
• The creation of a cycle path from Wilkshire Road alongside Warwick Road to St Johns Gyratory. (Possibly shared with pedestrians)
• The Extension of the 30mph speed limit from its current location on Warwick Road past the entry to Wilkshire Road.
• Creating a new welcoming entrance to the town utilising the same 'styled' 30mph signage and road markings as can be found on the boundary to Leek Wootton.

Speaking at last night's meeting Cllr Spencer said: "This is a bit of a hot topic around the table with regards to the development on the outside of Kenilworth.

"There are a lot of people who don't agree with the county council's philosophy on speed limits.

"I had looked at the idea of building an island as a natural barrier to bring the speed limit down.

"And at Christmas a petition was received by WCC to extend street lighting and cycling lanes into the town and doing something about the speed limit."

Funding for the survey will come from the council's CIL reserves.

"This is what the money is destined for – to improve our town and to make it a better place for people who move here and already live here," Cllr Spencer added.