An MHK says she there appears to be ’overwhelming support’ for a speed limit reduction in a residential area of Douglas.

Ann Corlett is organising a petition for a reduction of the speed limit on the roads near to Ballakermeen High School.

Last year, when plans to alter the traffic flow of vehicles in and out of the secondary school were raised - before being subsequently dropped - many residents criticised roads chiefs for not doing enough on traffic safety.

They expressed concern at increased volumes of vehicles and pointed out that with Henry Bloom Noble Primary School also nearby, there were many young pedestrians who they feared were at risk because of both traffic volumes and speeds.

Douglas Central MHK Mrs Corlett has been canvassing opinions and already a number of posters supporting a ’20 is plenty’ campaign have been placed in the windows of houses in the area.

Mrs Corlett is trying to gauge the level of support for a speed reduction, from 30mph to 20mph, in Ballakermeen Drive, Belmont Hill, St Catherine’s Drive, Westbourne Drive, Hawarden Avenue, Selborne Road and Westminster Terrace.

She said: ’I have to say the support for a 20mph limit is overwhelming from the people I have managed to speak to.

’Residents are trying to live among the traffic, the speed, the parking problems and I honestly think that we have to try to make the environment that we live in in Douglas Central more liveable.’

Mrs Corlett (pictured) has been knocking on doors to speak to residents and will be at All Saints’ Church Hall from 2pm to 4pm tomorrow (Saturday) and again on October 3, to talk to anyone with concerns and to allow them a chance to sign the petition.

In the latest set of written Tynwald questions, former Department of Infrastructure member Jason Moorhouse asked the minister, Tim Baker, for details of the most recent traffic flow data for Hawarden Avenue, which is often used as by motorists seeking taking a shortcut between Peel Road and Woodbourne Road, two of the main entry routes into Douglas.

The last survey was in 2015 at the end of February. It found the percentage of those speeding - above the 30mph limit for Hawarden Avenue - was 1.13% eastbound and 0.78% westbound.