A Times poll on the proposed introduction of blanket 20mph speed limits in Wells has divided opinions - with a narrow majority voting against the idea.

A Times poll on the proposed introduction of blanket 20mph speed limits in Wells has divided opinions - with a narrow majority voting against the idea.

At its last meeting Wells Town Council delayed a decision on whether to request a 20mph limits throughout the town to allow the public the opportunity to have their say on the idea.

Times readers were given the opportunity to tell councillors whether they believed it was necessary to alter speed restrictions to make the town safer. The referendum brought an extremely close vote from those who registered their opinions through our online poll and the cut-out postal coupon published two weeks ago.

By the time we went to press this week, the results were:

39pc in favour of keeping things as they are

33pc in favour of 20mph limits in certain areas only

28pc in favour of 20mph limits throughout the town

Among those who voted to keep the status quo, one respondent said: “Those drivers who ignore present speed limits will still ignore any new ones. To bring in further restrictions will only persecute the law abiding, not the offenders.

Another said: “Most of the town is too busy for drivers to exceed 20mph anyway, and if those limits are enforced, people will be reluctant to drive slowly on quieter stretches of road.”

B. Platten, of Warham Road in Wells, voted for introducing a 20mph limit in certain places, but not others.

“The best way to prevent speeding on any highway is by physical means; eg an intelligent parking system designed to slow traffic,” he said. “It would also provide more much needed parking space. Issuing parking tickets only deters families, their friends and relatives from returning.”

Roger Muncey, of the Bowling Green in Wells, supported the blanket 20mph proposals. He said: “I can't understand why anyone would choose to object to this proposal, except for drivers who regularly speed through Wells (and there are plenty of those).

“The 10mph difference between 20 and 30mph won't make the slightest difference to congestion, but if properly enforced it would certainly make the town a safer and less intimidating place to live.”

All your votes and comments will be given to the town council ahead of their next meeting on March 1, when the issue is due to be discussed again.