PROPOSALS for a widespread 20 miles per hour speed limit throughout Dunbar have won the support of almost two thirds of those taking part in a survey.

Only major roads in the section of the town to the north of the railway line – such as Belhaven Road and Roxburghe Terrace – would not fall under the reduced speed limit, remaining instead at 30 miles per hour.

The suggestion, which has been put forward by Herbert Coutts, one of the town’s community councillors, would mirror the existing scheme in the Hallhill area of the town, which is to the south of the railway line.

A public meeting was held last Tuesday evening, where members of the public were able to hear from Mr Coutts and George Robertson, another community councillor, as well as Alan Stubbs and Colin Baird, from East Lothian Council’s roads department, plus Councillor Michael Veitch and Constable Gavin Ross.

As of last Tuesday, 667 people had taken part in the survey, either online or through paper copies, which have been left at a number of shops throughout the town, with more than 60 per cent in favour of a 20 miles per hour trial in the town.

Mr Coutts told the meeting that the survey would remain open until the community council’s next meeting, which will be held on July 18, when a report will be given with a view to decide what would happen next.

If there is public support for the scheme, it could then be passed in the direction of East Lothian Council, who would then consult further with the emergency services and look at what the proposals could entail.

Then, it would be up to councillors, such as Mr Veitch, to decide whether to push on with the idea.

Following the meeting, he highlighted that the community council had “gone out of their way” to try to make the survey as accessible as possible.

He said: “With all the other 20mph pilots we have introduced there has been a fairly strong level of support and a decent majority are in favour of the speed limits.

“I suspect the responses were a little bit tighter in this one as it is such a wide area.”

Mr Veitch noted that there would likely still need to be work done in terms of drawing up specific boundaries for any proposed area where the speed limit would be reduced and was looking ahead to the community council meeting for the final figures.

Statistics showing the number and location of accidents in and around the town between 2004 and 2014 were also displayed.

Mr Coutts acknowledged reducing the speed limit was not going to wipe out accidents and stressed: “Nobody on the community council feels it is a magic wand.”

However, the idea did not win universal favour with those at the meeting, which was held at Dunbar Grammar School.

One man suggested there were already between 70 and 80 per cent of the roads in Dunbar where you were “doing pretty well” to get above 20 miles per hour.

Concerns were also raised that there would need to be signs changed on every street to highlight the changes.

However, it was stressed the proposals were for a reduced speed limit, with no intention to introduce speed bumps or speed tables.