South London residents have slammed a “nonsense” 20mph scheme claiming it will cause more traffic and fumes if it is rolled out.

Transport for London revealed on March 21 that 65km of roads could get a new speed limit in eight boroughs including Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley and Lambeth.

However, not all residents approve of the new plans.

Alex Ivanov, 44, is a resident of north Greenwich.

He told the LDRS that he felt the new speed limit was reasonable around schools and nurseries, but wasn’t suitable “around the clock” across Greenwich.

He said: “It might save one or two stupid pedestrians, but it makes the traffic slower and adds more fumes too, as when you have to drive on lower gears, your car pollutes the air more.

"There have been so many situations at night when I have to follow the speed limit and the road is empty.”

Timothy Waters, 70, is a local of Plumstead in Greenwich.

The resident said he agreed that slower speeds will cause less deaths, but that bad drivers and unaware pedestrians are responsible for more accidents.

He told the LDRS: “I find the whole thing nonsense, absolute nonsense… It’s a very backhanded way of doing it.

"What they’re not actually doing is providing the right training and encouragement to get people to walk and cycle.”

The local said that he often drives to visit his daughter, as well as dropping his son and grandchildren to work and school.

He said: “The more they try to stop people driving, the more my life gets constrained.

"I’m getting older, it’s chaining me to my home so I would become lonely and isolated, and my children, who are both in their 40s, wouldn’t be able to get to work.”

A TfL spokesperson said in a statement that the plans come as part of a wider scheme to lower speeds on more than 140km of roads in London by May 2024.

They also said that police are projected to tackle 650,000 speeding offences in the 2022/23 year, an increase of 30per cent from last year.

Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens of the Metropolitan Police Service, who leads road and transport policing in London, told the LDRS that the Met Police were working alongside TfL and local councils to reduce the number of collisions and injuries in the capital.

He said: “We know that speed links directly to the cause, and severity of injury, in many road traffic collisions.

"We welcome initiatives that make London’s roads safer. Every road death or serious injury is devastating for the victim’s family and friends.

"All road users have a responsibility for road safety and we urge all drivers and riders to take every step they can to keep themselves and others safe whilst on the roads.”

A Greenwich Council spokesperson told the LDRS that the authority was committed to Vision Zero, a scheme to eliminate all serious injuries from road collisions.

They said: “Lowering speeds is fundamental to reducing road danger because a person is five times less likely to be fatally injured if hit at 20mph than at 30mph.

"Our recently adopted Transport Strategy includes a commitment to safe speeds and we will consider a borough-wide 20mph limit to help make our roads safer for everyone.”

They added: “We’re pleased to see that Transport for London’s plans for its next stage of lowering speed limits on its roads includes a number in Royal Greenwich.

"This is an important step in making our streets safer and we look forward to working with them as we progress towards Vision Zero.”

Red Lion Lane Neighbourhood Watch previously sent a petition to Greenwich Council to add a 20mph zone and pedestrian crossing around the junction on Shooters Hill Road and Well Hall Road.

Daniel O’Loghlen, speaking on behalf of Red Lion Lane Neighbourhood Watch, told the LDRS: “We welcome this introduction by TfL and are pleased speeds will potentially be reduced but are bitterly disappointed that safer crossings aren’t part of this improvement.

"Pedestrians will still be unable to cross safely and filter lights are desperately needed for right turns at the junction.

"We are hopeful this step by TfL will lead to the council also taking the necessary actions we called for in our petition.”

Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action for Lewisham Council, told the LDRS that the council welcomed the new plans.

She said Lewisham Council added a 20mph speed limit to council-managed roads in 2016, and would continue to improve road safety in the borough.

Will Norman, London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner for the Mayor of London, said in a statement: “We are determined to build a safer, greener London for everyone and the continued expansion of the 20mph programme on TfL roads is playing a vital role in making the capital’s roads safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

"This forms an important part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero plan and we will continue to work with colleagues in boroughs to keep improving the safety of London’s roads.”

TfL has launched an engagement with the public on the new scheme.

Work on the new speed limits could begin in September depending on the public response.