A?DIRECTIVE by the Coalition Government to reduce speed limits on busy residential roads has been welcomed by a leading Liberal Democrat in West Devon.

Coalition Government Transport Minister Norman Baker said he wanted to end the 'era of top-down government by providing a radical devolution of power to local authorities and communities'.

He said:?'If councils and local communities want to put in place 20mph schemes on residential roads or use common-sense measures such as variable speed limits outside schools, then they should be able to do so without spending time and money satisfying unnecessary Whitehall diktats.'

The changes see many of the current restrictions and obstacles to rolling out 20mph zones being removed so that residential roads can be implemented with cheaper and fewer signs. Also, councils will no longer require approval from Government to introduce 20mph zones.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green, who represents the Tavistock South Ward, said that while canvassing in the recent local government elections, Bishopsmead was one area where residents expressed concern on road safety.

Cllr Clish-Green said: 'Thanks to action by Lib Dems in the Coalition Government we stand a better chance of persuading Devon County Council to implement 20mph zones within some residential areas of West Devon.

'This is an important step forward in removing some of the red tape and costs that make putting in 20mph zones such an onerous task — 20mph zones are one of the key issues in making residential roads safer for all their users, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.'