A TWENTY miles per hour vehicle speed limit could be introduced in Aberlady.

There are hopes the village could follow in the footsteps of East Linton, where a near-community-wide 20mph speed limit was introduced earlier this month.

An extensive consultation exercise took place for East Linton last year, with the newly-reduced speed limit in place until the end of 2018, when a decision will be made on whether it has proven worthwhile.

Now, a lowered speed limit could be put in place in Aberlady as well.

Ian Malcolm and other Aberlady residents have met with Herbert Coutts and Jacquie Bell, of Dunbar Community Council, about the idea.

A 20mph limit currently applies in a number of streets in Dunbar.

If the idea was to move forward in Aberlady, residents would be consulted about the plans and also on how widespread any scheme would be in the village before any new speed limit would be implemented.

There would then need to be permission from East Lothian Council before the lower speed limit could be implemented on a trial basis.

Donald Hay, chairman of Gullane Area Community Council, which covers Aberlady, told the Courier the idea of a reduced speed limit in the village was something which had been discussed before.

He said: “It’s virtually impossible to do anything more than 30mph on High Street because of the way the traffic is situated.”

Mr Hay questioned if a change in speed limit would be enforced on a regular basis but was in favour of it being put in place within the new housing development planned for the village’s western edge. A total of 107 homes were given the go-ahead earlier this year, with work set to start within a matter of months.

Mr Hay was in favour of introducing the 20mph limit through the new housing scheme in a bid to stop people from using it as a shortcut.

He said: “I’m not against a 20mph area but in residential areas I’m all for it and think it is important.”