NOW that traffic calming has reduced vehicle speeds in a Poole residential road, the council is able to legally lower the speed limit.

Four mini roundabouts were introduced at junctions in Rosemary Road after residents presented a 137-strong petition last year calling for the 30mph speed road to be included in the wider Newtown 20mph zone scheme.

Government guidance recommends that 20mph speed limits can be put in place where speed limits have already reduced to virtually the level of the limit to be introduced.

Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services, Borough of Poole, said: “Official guidance from the Department of Transport recommends that that 20mph limits are appropriate for roads where average speeds are already low.

"The traffic calming measures installed earlier this year have proven to be very effective, so that the zone can now be applied in line with this national guidance.”

The evenly spaced mini roundabouts at junctions with Maureen Close, Lavinia Road, Brixey Road and Good Road cost around £64,000 and were completed by January 2015.

After the installation speed surveys were carried out in March this year.

Before and after speed surveys revealed that between Ringwood Road and Brixey Road average speeds had reduced to 22mph. On the approach to the Brixey Road junction, speeds had reduced to 23mph. However between Brixey Road and Southill Road speeds had remained largely unchanged but were still below 30mph.

Latest records show that there had only been one slight injury accident in the road since the mini roundabouts were put in, involving a car mounting the pavement at the Good Road junction and being in collision with a pedestrian.

Borough of Poole's transportation advisory group agreed that speed limit orders be advertised for Rosemary Road, Cynthia Road and Rossmore Road from Ringwood Road to Stanfield Road.

Removing the 30mph signs and replacing them with 20mph signs, marking 20mph roundels at suitable locations on the road and resetting the electronic vehicle activated sign to the east of Brixey Road to display the new speed limit is estimated to cost £4,000.