The introduction of a 20mph speed limit in all roads has been rejected as too expensive and unenforceable.

Councillors on the Area 2 Committee, which covers Bridge, Church End and Monkhams wards, were asked to consider the issue as Redbridge Council consults on future policy.

The idea of introducing a 20mph limit in residential streets was unanimously rejected, but it was decided that a pilot scheme should be introduced in a small area, which is yet to be decided.

A total of four people were killed on Redbridge roads last year, with 89 seriously injured.

Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, Liberal Democrat Cllr Ian Bond, of Roding ward, said: "There are concerns amongst residents about road safety and how to reduce accidents.

"20mph zones will be coming across all London boroughs sooner or later, so we should be looking at this now and testing it out as a borough.

Conservative Cllr Robin Andrew Turbefield, of Bridge ward, voted against the pilot, arguing such restrictions were 'unenforceable' due to a lack of resources.

He also said a council report examining the implications of 20mph zones lacked detail. 

"There is not enough statistics and information in the report to go by for me to make a reasonable, rational decision." he added.

‘I’ve looked up statistics about road casualties in Redbridge online and it does not warrant the implementation of a 20mph blanket zone.”

Cllr Paul Canal and Cllr John Wiiliam Fairley-Churchill abstained from the vote, but did not explain why. 

Police say they support 20mph zones as an accident reducing measure, but insist they should be "self-enforcing" through the use of traffic-calming measures.

But other emergency services are reported to be against road humps and road narrowing as they reduce speed of accessibility.

The cost of introducing 20mph limit on all residential streets in Redbridge is estimated to be in excess of £700,000 for signs alone.

Redbridge currently has 46, such zones around schools and 10 in other areas.

Parent of two, Marisa Ker, 37, of Southview Drive, near Nightingale Primary School, has raised the issue of 20mph zones and hopes the pilot proves a success.

She said: "There is a sense of carelessness. We get cars going at ridiculous speeds. It's no good having 20mph zones here and there because as soon as they drive out of the zone, they drive at high speeds.

"I hope the pilot scheme is successful and gets rolled out across many areas in the borough."
A report to be presented to the council’s cabinet examines the effectiveness of the reduced speed limit.

In areas such as Maybank Road, Mayfield Road and Latchet Road, there is serious concern among residents with drivers' excessive speeds, according to the report.