THE long-campaigned for 20mph zones in East Reading are set to be introduced by the spring.

All residential streets contained within the red and blue lines on the map will be covered by the blanket speed reduction in a bid to increase safety in the busy, narrow roads of Newtown and Redlands.

Reading Borough Council has had the scheme in the pipeline since 2012 but halted the works two years ago over fears the cost of illuminating the signs would cause them to go over budget.

Since then a Government scheme has been pending which allows local councils to save money by leaving out the lighting.

The change in regulations could reduce the cost of the project in Reading from around £200,000 to £35,000.

The move is yet to be confirmed but officers are recommending councillors continue on the assumption it will be implemented soon.

If agreed the new speed restrictions would be in place by May of this year and see around 80 signs pop up in the area.

Cllr Rob White said: “We have been campaigning for 20mph zones for many years and residents think it will make the roads much better and safer to use and better for cyclists so it is great to hear that we could be getting them - the sooner the better.”

Cllr White’s campaign in Park ward began around 10 years ago when fellow Newtown residents handed in a petition seeking to slow down drivers on their roads.

By 2012 resident consultations had begun and the council was recommending cutting the speed limit before shelving the project due to costing issues.

Cllr White added: “We [the Green Party] thought the council should have just got on with it and spent the money, it just comes down to what price you put on a life.”

However, the borough’s lead member for transport Cllr Tony Page said if the plan had been bought in any earlier the council could have wasted valuable resources.

Currently the authority is still taking a “gamble” says Cllr Page while awaiting for final approval He added: “We as a council have long been committed to 20mph zones provided they are met with local support. We would have implemented this much earlier but for this delay in government regulations.”

Cllr White also said he wanted the council to consider expanding 20mph zones to all residential streets in the borough but Cllr Page dismissed the idea saying it was “unrealistic”.

Councillors will make a decision at traffic management sub-committee tomorrow (Thursday).

The new restrictions would reach from Kendrick Road on the West to the borough boundaries in the East encompassing residential streets surrounding the University of Reading, Newtown, Palmer Park and up to Church Road.

Main thoroughfares including King’s Road, London Road and Wokingham Road would be unaffected.