Everyone I speak to is very grateful to our NHS and front line staff working so hard in very difficult circumstances to deal with the virus emergency. Nationally our hospitals are under pressure from huge increases in admissions, combined with some staff sick, or isolating due to the virus.

There are 3,000 admissions per month in England as a result of road traffic casualties. Even with non-essential traffic banned, I’ve witnessed many vehicles moving too fast, especially when social distancing means people are stepping off pavements to give others space.

Nationally and internationally it is best practice to adopt 20mph speed limits where pedestrians and cyclists mix with motor traffic. England signed the ‘Stockholm Declaration’ for this in February. A Canadian study found reducing speed limits to 20mph associated with a 67 per cent reduction in major and fatal injuries.

109 public health experts wrote a letter to the Times on March 22 asking for reduced speed limits to lower the baseline load and raise critical care capacity in hospitals. I have asked City of York Council to reduce all 30mph limits to 20mph.

Please protect us all and free up hospital beds by making 20mph the normal speed limit here on every built up area road during this emergency.

Anna Semlyen,

20’s Plenty for York,

Grange Street, York