Police have said that they will enforce 20mph speed limits if they are rolled out across Cornwall. A scheme to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit on residential streets is being considered by Cornwall Council.

A pilot scheme undertaken in Falmouth, Penryn, and Camelford has proved a success and the council is now proposing cutting speed limits on roads across Cornwall to improve safety and cut accidents. If approved by the council's Cabinet the project will cost £ 3.8 million and would be completed by 2026.

The scheme has been supported by a number of people and organisations including Devon and Cornwall Police which is backing efforts to cut the number of injuries and fatal accidents in Cornwall.

A meeting of the council's economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee yesterday backed the proposals and recommended that the Cabinet should approve the project.

Speaking to the committee Chief Inspector Benjamin Asprey, from the roads policing unit, explained that 20mph limits could be enforced as long as a traffic management order is in place.

He said that cutting speed limits down to 20mph would reduce the risks of accidents and injuries as well as fatal accidents. He said that the project would be in line with the work already being done by the police force.

Ch Insp Asprey said that a speed camera that had been installed in a 20mph area in Plymouth was accompanied by a communications campaign to make people aware of the lower speed limit and the reasons for it. He said that a "significant enforcement" campaign resulted in 16,000 offences being caught on the road in question.

Councillors heard that if the 20mph limits are rolled out they would be accompanied by an extensive communications campaign to raise awareness of the changes and to encourage safer driving.

In response to questions from councillors Ch Insp Asprey confirmed that motorists caught breaking the 20mph limit would be subject to a three-point penalty and fine or would be given the opportunity to undertake a speed awareness course.

Launceston councillor John Conway said that he was concerned whether the new limits would be enforced and said he saw more enforcement on larger roads, such as the A30, than smaller residential roads.

Ch Insp Asprey said that whilst that might have been the case in the past the police were now making sure that enforcement is undertaken on all roads and not just "faster routes".

The plans for the 20mph rollout will now go to Cabinet for approval before they are implemented. Under the proposals, there will be a phased approach to the rollout which would continue this year and conclude in 2026.