ROADS in Over Peover and Jodrell Bank are set to be part of a new '40mph zone' if the Department of Transport approves a proposal put forward by Cheshire East Council.

The authority will decide to approve the plans for a Over Peover/Jodrell Bank 40 mph Rural Zone at a meeting to be held at its headquarters in Sandbach on Tuesday, March 29.

Cllr George Walton, ward member for Chelford on Cheshire East Council, told the Guardian it was important to try and make the roads safer after the success of reducing the speed limit on the A50 and A537 last summer.

"I have to say it was my idea that started out 12 months ago," Cllr Walton said.

"We got a 50mph limit on the roads between Knutsford and Holmes Chapel and the road between Macclesfield and Knutsford.

"You then have this situation of going down the country lanes and the limit being 60mph, which is a nonsense really.

"I had a word with our former leader Cllr Michael Jones and he was very supportive. Highways put something forward but unfortunately it didn't cover all of my ward, like Seven Sisters Lane for example, but they extended it to Jodrell Bank.

"You have to try these things and it's minimal cost."

A report produced ahead of a meeting with Cheshire East Highways on March 29 states the scheme would cost £50,000 to implement.

"At this stage approval is being sought purely to make the DfT application," it adds.

"Should DfT approve then the potential cost to deliver the area based limit and the associated monitoring of the traffic flows will be in the region of £50,000. This will be funded from the Road Safety element of the LTP and has been provisionally included in the 16/17 programme."

Cllr Walton added he had spoken to Knutsford Police about the changes at a meeting this week.

"If it works we can role it out and see what happens," he said.

"There will be people that don't like it but speeding is a big issue and if we can slow them down then all the better.

"Pepper Street, opposite the Egerton Arms, is on the list and Snelson Parish Council have been told about that as that has been an issue.

"The letters have all been drafted out to the Department of Transport for some time so we will send them off and see what they say."

The full list of roads that could have a new limit are: Batemill Lane, Peover Heath; Blackden Lane, Goostrey; Bornish Lane, Blackden Heath; Boundary Lane, Peover Heath; Bridge Lane, Blackden Heath; Chelford Lane, Over Peover (between its junction with Mill Lane and a point 198 metres northeast of its junction with Stocks Lane); Cinder Lane, Peover Heath; Clay Lane, Over Peover; Common Farm Lane, Peover Heath; Common Lane, Peover Heath; Green Lane, Peover Heath; Grotto Lane, Over Peover; Mill Lane, Over Peover; Moss Lane; Peover Lane; Pepper Street, Snelson; Percival Lane; Sandhole Lane; School Lane; Snelson Lane; Stocks Lane, Over Peover (from its junction with Clay Lane in a northwesterly direction for a distance of 157metres); and Well Bank Lane (from its junction with Clay Lane in a southeasterly direction for a distance of 55.5metres).