The rollout of the 20mph speed limit has taken a step forward.

Councillors voted to press on with plans for phase three of Brighton and Hove City Council's initiative to reduce city speed limits.

At last night's meeting of the environment, transport and sustainability committee members voted for further consultation to introduce 20mph zones.

In total 55% of residents responded in favour of the phase three plans.

Advertisement of speed limit orders will now take place in Mile Oak, Rottingdean, Hangleton, Saltdean, Medina Terrace and Ovingdean.

Woodingdean was voted out of phase three by opposition councillors after only 49% of the residents who responded were positive about the initial consultation.

Councillor Ian Davey, lead member for transport, said: “Cities are citing Brighton and Hove as an example of what we have done, how it has been done well and how it is working.”

He added: “Maybe the time is coming to change the default speed limit in urban areas to 20mph from 30mph.”

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald asked how much money the signage for the 20mph phases is costing the council.

The officers responded by saying they allowed a sum of £20,000 to account for maintenance but that budget had been “nowhere near spent”.

The report presented to the committee said Sussex Police had "no objections" to the phase three rollout.

Brighton Area Buswatch presented their concerns on the impacts the speed limit would have on bus services in the area.

Compass Buses also expressed concerns over the impact on their timetable but Brighton and Hove Buses were “broadly supportive”.

Phase one and two were previously rolled out in the city and the council is reporting a fall in serious collisions and zero fatalities in those areas.

The final stage of the consultation will come to the committee in March for phase three to be decided.

Also at last night's meeting a vote on a move to increase city parking charges was tabled off to next month's budget council meeting.