Herts County Council has stressed that 20mph zones will only be rolled out where schemes are 'appropriate' and have the backing of residents and local councillors.

County council policy suggests 20mph areas can improve safety, create calmer streets and encourage more walking and cycling.

Around £2.3m has been earmarked for the continued roll-out in next year's budget proposals – as part of plans that would total £7m over three years.

But the council's record on the roll-out of 20mph zones was challenged as part of the cross-party scrutiny of the budget plans, where questions were asked about how the number of 20mph zones could be increased within the same budget.

Now more than 1500 people living or working in the county have signed a petition calling for the council to stop the roll-out of 20mph – suggesting, "this wasteful spending must be stopped immediately".

On Monday (February 12) – just hours before the full council's budget setting meeting – executive member for highways and transport Cllr Phil Bibby stressed 20mph zones were only planned in areas where they were "appropriate" – and had the backing of residents.

Addressing a meeting of the council's cabinet, he said: "The Opposition would still like us to actually effectively roll-out blanket default schemes which we are totally against.

"We have done so in a very scientifically way – based on independent research and experience.

"And we are actually putting these schemes in appropriate places, where the local residents and members agree

"We are not going to impose any limits on anyone.

"I think we are in a good place here. We are actually consulting with the public and putting the schemes in where they are required and needed."