A VICAR and a councillor believe the cost of imposing a 20mph speed limit in Darlington is worthwhile if it saves the lives of children.

The radical speed reduction proposal was discussed at a public meeting on Thursday by 20s Plenty campaigners, who want to see the speed limit lowered to 20mph on all the town's residential roads, without traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps.

Cost implications were discussed in depth.

Councillor David Lyonette, Darlington Borough Council cabinet member for transport, said: "There is a big difference between 30mph and 20mph, where there is a lit street, people know to go 30mph. If it did change, signs would have to be put up every 100 metres telling people it was 20mph.

"The expense of putting up signs around the town without funding from central government would be too much.

"In Portsmouth, where the policy has been in place for two years, it cost them £570,000 - it's hard to find even £15,000 from Darlington Borough Council at the moment."

Despite Coun Lyonette's warning, Gerald Lee, ward councillor for Heighington and Coniscliffe, and the Reverend Robert Williamson, vicar of St Cuthbert's Church, argued that cost implications were small compared to the positive effects of the change.

Mr Williamson said: "Flu is predictable, but with the high number of young people getting killed on the roads, this is entirely preventable."

Coun Lee added: "We must not lose sight of the importance of children's lives."

Members of the public asked whether a more common sense approach could be taken for signage, questioning whether a sign every 100 metres was necessary.

Coun Lee said the speeding problem had plagued his time as a councillor.

"Since I was first elected in 1999 I have been inundated with complaints about speeding - but when we complain nothing happens."

He added: "It continues, there are more meetings and more agreements, but no action."

Nick Wallis, cabinet member for environment, agreed that enforcement was an issue.

No representative from Darlington police was able to attend the meeting, held at St Cuthbert's church hall.

For more information about the campaign, email darling ton@20splentyforus.org.uk