A PETITION to make Wilmslow’s roads safer with 20mph areas and more pedestrian crossings has been launched.


Close to 300 people have signed the petition, which will be sent to Cllr David Brown, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and highways portfolio holder.


The petition aims to introduce a 20mph speed limit in residential areas, additional or improved pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures on Hawthorn Street, and greater enforcement of speed limits on main road entrances to Wilmslow.


The idea behind the petition was sparked after Wilmslow mum Kate Okell and her baby daughter were shunted by a van that had veered the pavement.


Florence Collier, creater of the petition, said: “Luckily Kate and her baby weren't hurt but she was very shaken. She asked others if this had happened to them and received a number of responses advising of near misses.


“Incidents such as these are not necessarily picked up in accident reports and therefore the risks to the most vulnerable road users are routinely underestimated.”


Florence will be hoping this petition will have more of an impact than her last one, which received the backing of Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton.


Florence added: “I had run a 20's plenty campaign a couple of years ago and sent in about 170 signatures, including Victoria Pendleton's, but we're still waiting for the council to do something.


“Now with quite a network on social media it's a lot easier for these things to take off.


“Please sign this petition to bring the speed limit down now and to improve some of the more dangerous roads and pedestrian crossings.”


To sign the petition visit home.38degrees.org.uk and type ‘Wilmslow safer roads’ into the search bar.