AN MP has joined forces with residents to try to slash the speed limit on a Bramhope road.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland says having the national speed limit (60mph) on Occupation Lane/Moorland Road is ludicrous' given the number of people, many with children, who live in the area.

He is backing a householders' campaign to have the limit cut to 30mph, like most other roads in Bramhope, and says he won't give up until it succeeds.

Mr Mulholland, who has raised the issue with Leeds City Council's highways department, said: "When you turn into Moorland Road, the speed limit immediately becomes 60 mph which, considering there are houses there, is absolutely ludicrous.

"This is a problem that could be easily solved and I will carry on campaigning alongside local residents until commonsense prevails and this is changed."

Residents claim there have been many near misses on the road. Sarah Kingston, of Moorland Road, said: "It seems a total disgrace that Leeds City Council is refusing to change the speed limit of this road to 30mph when so many children live here and many residents of Bramhope, Cookridge and further afield use this road to walk, jog, cycle, horse ride etc.

"It is the only street in Bramhope I know of that does not have a speed limit of 40mph or below - 40 being the limit of main roads, not quiet residential ones like ours."

Bramhope Parish and city councillor Clive Fox (Con, Adel and Wharfedale), however, whilst sympathising with people's concerns, sounded a note of caution. He said: "There has been a request in the past for a speed limit from the junction of Moor Road and Moorland Road to the point where the houses end (in the westerly direction), and one can understand the concerns of people living on there.

"Though there is a case for a speed limit any formal request for one would normally mean LCC measuring the speed of traffic to establish how extensive the problem is.

"There is no certainty that any traffic studies carried out by Leeds will in fact demonstrate that there is a significant speeding problem just there."