A Suffolk community leader has called Rishi Sunak's reported plans to curb English councils from introducing new 20mph speed limits a "war on clean air".
It is thought the Prime Minister will unveil the measure as part of a Plan for Motorists at the Tory conference, which began yesterday in Manchester.
According to several newspapers, Mr Sunak is reportedly planning to limit the power of local authorities to impose new 20mph zones, restrict the number of hours a day cars are banned from bus lanes, and scale back low-traffic neighbourhoods.
Green councillor Robert Lindsay, who represents the Cosford ward on Suffolk County Council, said: "In his desperation to end his government's unpopularity, Rishi Sunak has declared war on clean air, on the right of people to walk or cycle safely in their own town or village, on the right of children to walk to school. All because he thinks he will get votes out of it.
"Safer, quieter streets shouldn't be about party politics. In Suffolk, there has been cross party support for many individual 20mph traffic schemes.
"Councillors of all political flavours - including Conservatives - have supported them in the parts they represent, because they know that it is what people want."
In July, Mr Sunak pledged to crack down on "anti-motorist" policies and, earlier this month, he delayed the ban on the sale of new conventionally fuelled cars and vans from 2030 to 2035.
A Department for Transport (DfT) source described the reports of new measures aimed at helping drivers as "speculation".
Earlier this month, Wales became the first country in the UK to drop the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph for restricted roads and Cllr Lindsay called for the same to be introduced in Suffolk.
"A large majority of the village of Lavenham that I represent, when surveyed for their neighbourhood plan, was in favour of a 20mph limit," he said.
"That scheme has been approved by the county council but work has not yet begun. So it is now under threat because of Sunak's determination to prevent councils from implementing the wishes of residents.
"There has never been a community that has asked for their 20mph limit to be removed once they have it."
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