A CAMPAIGN to reduce the speed limit on residential roads in Darlington has gained support from the town's headteachers.

Of 24 headteachers who responded to a survey conducted by Darlington councillor Gerald Lee, 22 said they they would support a reduction of the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in some areas of the borough.

The survey was conducted anonymously, with one headteacher saying: "I agree whole-heartedly with the proposal to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph for the obvious road safety benefits to our children and families in Darlington."

Matthew Snedker, who is leading the 20's Plenty campaign, said: "It is absolutely fantastic that this influential group has come out in support of the campaign.

"The campaign is really starting to take shape now and we recently had Age UK coming out in support of it.

"That just shows the broad range of support we have.

From people who look after children to a charity that looks after the elderly. It is proof that a reduction in the speed limit would be beneficial to all groups."

The 20's Plenty for Darlington campaigners want the town to follow numerous towns and cites, including Hartlepool and Portsmouth, in introducing the default limit on predominately residential roads. The campaign would exclude major residential roads, including radial and circulatory roads, as well as Lingfield Point, Morton Park and Faverdale Industrial Estate.

"It has been calculated that the cost of the changes would be between £2 and £2.50 per person in the borough. I appreciate we are in difficult economic times but this is a necessary cost, added Mr Snedker.

"In many respects it will save money. Figures from the Department of Transport suggest that a death on a road can cost the local economy more than £1m.

"Last year, fatalities on the road cost Darlington's local economy around £16.4m.

"But this is about much more than figures. We are talking about lives here. Hit a child at 30mph and there is a 50-50 chance they will live or die.

"Hit a child at 20mph and there is a 90 per cent chance they will live.

"It's as simple as that."