THE Green Party in south Shropshire is using the Covid-19 outbreak as a reason for repeating their call for lower speed limits.

They say that this would take pressure off the NHS and free up NHS staff and beds.

It has been claimed that 3,000 people a month are admitted to hospital as a result of traffic accidents.

According to the Green party in the calendar year 2019 there were 1,241 attendances at accident and emergency at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as a result of road traffic incidents.

The Greens claim that it has been known for many years that a general 20 miles per hour speed limit on roads where pedestrians, bikes and cars mix reduces the chances of death and serious injury and this has been restated by the World Health Organisation and incorporated into a global statement agreed by government ministers who met in Stockholm in February.

The Green party has asked the UK minister for roads, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, to introduce this policy nationally with immediate effect as a response to the virus and to run for as long as the emergency exists.

Shropshire Council has all the necessary legal powers to re-set all roads currently designated as 30mph to 20mph.

The Green party has asked Shropshire Council to take this initiative now to free up capacity in hospitals to release beds and medical staff time to deal with Covid-19 patients and all non-Covid-19 serious health issues.

“We are very concerned indeed about the huge pressures on NHS staff and hospital beds at a time of extreme emergency caused by the Covid-19 virus,” said Hilary Wendt, of the Green Party in south Shropshire.

“It is essential to reduce those pressures in any way possible so we can deal more effectively with Covid-19 patients and at the same time protect capacity to deal with serious health issues such as strokes, heart attacks and cancer screening and treatment.”

There has been a campaign in Ludlow for the universal introduction of a 20mph speed limit throughout the town for many years.

It has been led by the ‘Twenty is Plenty’ campaign that is linked to the Ludlow environmental group.

It has the support of Ludlow Town Council and supporters claim that it is also widely supported by people living in the town.

They say that the lower limit would not only potentially save lives but also make a pleasanter environment.