Council chiefs have ruled out the introduction of a 20mph speed limit town-wide for at least 12 months.

Lewes Town Council has agreed to put forward £5,000 to help introduce the restrictions in the area.

However a letter to the local authority by the transport bosses at East Sussex County Council states it is not able to offer a “town wide limit”.

In a letter to the town council, transport cabinet member Carl Maynard said there was no money in the authority’s current budget to support the scheme.

This would mean any such work will be delayed until at least 2012/3.

A report previously discussed by East Sussex County Council said a larger zone other than the town centre did not meet national criteria.

This was because speeds in the centre rarely went above 24mph.

It added that despite a petition from more than 1,500 locals supporting the proposal, the local authority was unable to commit money at the moment for a wider plan.

Coun Maynard added the proposals would be subject to public consultation before they were agreed.

He also referred to Transport Minister Norman Baker’s announcement of changes to the way 20mph speed limits are delivered but said any further information would not be known until later this year.

The issue will be discussed in detail at the Lewes Town Council meeting on July 26 in Lewes Town Hall at 11.30am