LABOUR wants to turn Addiscombe's residential roads into 20mph zones.
Councillors Mark Watson, Sean Fitzsimmons and Patricia Hay-Justice say the campaign is in response to concerns raised with them about traffic.
Complaints have included lorries and other commercial vehicles using side streets as cut throughs and traffic travelling too fast.
Labour said the issue was causing noise and pollution as well as making the streets "less safe for children, cyclists and pets".
Cllr Watson said: "We believe that a simple and cost effective measure would be to introduce 20mph limits on our residential roads.
"This has proved popular in other cities and London boroughs and we believe it would be suitable for Addiscombe.
"The zones would also encourage commercial vehicles and non-residents to use the main roads, rather than using our streets as 'rat-runs' and make the streets more pleasant for cyclists, pedestrians and residents.
"Lower speeds improve streets both in terms of safety and quality of life.
"Evidence also suggests that 20mph zones prove effective and that motorists comply without the need for other road calming measures."
When asked whether the zones would impact on journey times, Cllr Watson said: "Lowering residential speed limits has been found to increase journey times by just 40 seconds, but decreases child pedestrian accidents by up to 70 per cent.
"We also appreciate that not every road in Addiscombe will be suitable, which is why we want to hear views from residents."
Around 7,000 letters explaining the campaign, which will be accompanied by a postcard for replies, is likely to be delivered to households over the next few weeks.
Responses can also be registered online at www.addiscombe.info/20mph.
