STREETS next to 15 schools in the Dudley borough look set to become 20mph zones in a drive to improve safety for children.

Schools in Dudley, Sedgley, Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Wordsley, Cradley and Halesowen are among those earmarked for schemes to cut speed, with work now starting to draw up designs and consult local residents.

It follows campaigns such as one at Wordsley, where 300 people signed a petition calling for 20mph limits outside local schools.

The Wordsley School in Brierley Hill Road is now destined to have the lower speed limit, as well as other improvements to be developed alongside proposed new housing development in the area.

Also in Wordsley, Fairhaven Primary is in line for a possible 20mph limit, alongside traffic calming measures.

The speed cuts are among a raft of proposals to improve safety near schools and they will be financed from the council's transport capital programme for 2016-17.

St Mary's RC Primary and Brierley Hill Primary should ultimately get 20mph limits, although that project is currently on hold due to a problem over a retaining wall.

The "safer routes to school programme" has also been welcomed by at least one Sedgley campaigner after the council approved the slower limit outside St Chad’s RC Primary School and Cotwall End Primary.

West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge, who in February issued a plea for speed restrictions to be implemented in Catholic Lane and Dudley Road, said: “I very much welcome news that action may at long last be taken to improve road safety. It's been a long road to reach to where we are now.

“I, along with residents, have been campaigning for years for much-needed action to be taken to clamp down on speeding and parking issues on Catholic Lane.

“I’m delighted the council finally appears to be listening to residents and their wishes."

In Stourbridge, similar 20mph schemes are in the pipeline for Ham Dingle Primary, Pedmore, Oldswinford Church of England Primary and Gigmill Primary, Norton.

Peter's Hill Primary at Amblecote is not listed for the 20mph proposal but there are plans to control parents' parking near islands and at side road junctions.

Designs are being drawn up for Woodside Community School in Highgate Road, Dudley, to get a 20mph limit, among other road safety improvements, and a similar speed reduction is being considered at Bishop Milner Catholic High.

Halesowen schools where 20mph measures are being drawn up are: Earls High, Halesbury and Hurst Green Primary, and Tenterfields Primary.

In Cradley, Colley Lane Primary is in line for a 20mph limit.

Councillor Hilary Bills, Dudley's cabinet member for environmental services, said: “As part of a five-year safer routes to school programme to improve safety on our streets around schools, the 20mph zones are among a number of measures being introduced outside school gates.

“All schools across the borough have been assessed and work prioritised. Local residents will be consulted on our proposals and the council will work to introduce the schemes as quickly as possible.”