A CALL for cross-party support to reduce the speed limit to 20mph in residential areas has been made by a Cotswold Liberal Democrat councillor. In an open letter to all district councillors in the north Cotswolds, Mickleton councillor Danny Loveridge has asked for their support in his campaign to reduce the 30mph speed limit in built-up areas to 20mph. In the letter, he said it was their chance to ‘seize the initiative and gain cross-party consensus’ on this important issue affecting the area. It stated: “You have no doubt heard from your constituents on the doorstep or through correspondence that speeding continues to be a problem in the towns and villages of the north Cotswolds, endangering lives and causing accidents. “Protecting the lives and safety of our neighbours and constituents should transcend party politics.” A petition for greater road safety in Campden, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Stow and Bourton has already gathered 1,100 signatures. Coun Loveridge will speak in favour of the ‘20 is plenty – saving lives on the road’ motion when it is debated at next week’s Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton. “In rural towns and villages such as Chipping Campden and Bourton-on-the-Hill speeding continues to be a problem,” he said. “Residents feel anxious that accidents or the potential for accidents is all too frequent. “In Chipping Campden people frequently complain about speeding through the town, including near Chipping Campden Academy, a school with over 1,000 pupils.” Somerset, Brighton and Hove and Lancashire have already trialled and implemented the 20mph zones. Meanwhile, the North Cotswolds Rural area Against Speeding Harm (No Crash), held a meeting last Wednesday at the Andoversford Church Centre. People who live along the A436 formed the group last month to pressurise the highways department and police to take action over drivers who clock up excessive speeds. Just days after the group was formed, 36-year-old Jaclyn Parks, from Blockley, died after her car crashed into a tree on the notorious stretch of road.