Camden Council is a step closer to imposing 20mph speed limits throughout the borough.

The authority agreed last Wednesday to carry out a six-week public consultation on the plans throughout January and February next year.

Some areas in Camden already have 20mph limits, including Belsize ward, and the council believes this has already improved road safety.

If the consultation is successful, the 20mph limits could be in place on roads controlled by Camden between September 2013 and March 2014. The proposal received cross-party support at a culture and environment scrutiny committee in September.

The project will cost between �1million and �1.5million.

In Camden, casualties for all road users rose by six per cent between 2009 and 2010.

Cllr Phil Jones, cabinet member for sustainability, said: “Introducing a 20mph borough-wide speed limit in Camden would prevent road casualties and make our streets safer spaces for all. Just a small reduction in speeds prevents accidents and saves lives.”

Roads controlled by Transport for London (TfL) will not be included at this stage.

but TfL as well as the Department for Transport and police will also be consulted.

National statistics show that at 20mph there is a 2.5 per cent chance of being fatally injured compared to a 20 per cent chance at 30mph.