TWO ward councillors will try to overturn a decision by the city council’s transport leader not to introduce a 20mph speed limit.

A petition to bring in the safety measure for Sovereign Park, off Boroughbridge Road, got the support of 223 out of 257 homeowners in the new estate.

They wanted the 20mph speed limit because they feel it would make life safer for themselves, children and other vulnerable people.

But at a decision meeting, city strategy executive member Coun Steve Galloway rejected their request, saying: “It has the lowest existing speed levels of any street or group of streets suggested for a limit change. It is unlikely that the provision of signs would result in a further reduction in speeds.”

He said other parts of the city should have priority for lower speed limits.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing and Coun David Horton, whose Acomb ward includes the estate, immediately warned they would call in the decision, meaning that it would go before the scrutiny management committee.

Both spoke during the meeting, urging the executive member to give it the go-ahead.

Coun Horton said: “This council has an unenviable reputation for dithering and indecision and for making a multitude of reasons for putting off until tomorrow what could be done today, and here is another classic example.”

The council is carrying out a survey into residents’ views on a city-wide 20mph zone. Until its results are known, later this year, the council will not implement any new 20mph zones. Last December, the council drew up a series of criteria to decide which areas should get priority for 20 mph zones.

Officers told Coun Galloway that the average speed limit in the estate was 14 mph and there had been no recorded accidents causing injury there in the last three years.