Residents, business owners and community groups are being given the opportunity to have their say on plans to cut the speed limit in an area of Seaford.

East Sussex County Council is holding a public consultation on a proposal to reduce the maximum speed in a section of Steyne Road and Sutton Avenue to 20mph.

The proposals have been launched in response to a petition requesting a lower speed limit in the area, which includes three schools and a nursery.

People will have the chance to comment on two proposals – an advisory, part-time 20mph limit in the vicinity of the schools and nursery and a mandatory 20mph limit operating at all times and covering a wider area.

Cllr Carl Maynard, county council lead member for transport and environment, said: “These proposals have been put together as a direct result of concerns raised by the community about traffic speeds in this area of Seaford.

“However, it’s important that we give people the chance to comment, to ensure the chosen option has broad support from people in Seaford, particularly those living in the affected area.

“The consultation questionnaire will only take a few minutes to complete, so we’d urge as many people as possible to take this chance to have their say.”

People are being asked whether they support the principle of a 20mph speed limit, and if so which of the two schemes they prefer.

The first option would see an advisory 20mph limit operating around the entrances to the schools and nursery for an hour at the beginning and end of the school day.

The second option would see a mandatory 20mph operating at all times of the day covering Steyne Road from the vicinity of its junction with Crooked Lane to a point at the eastern end of Sutton Avenue at its junction with Micklefield Way.

This option would also affect Arundel Road, Ashurst Road, Bramber Road, Chyngton Road, Darwell Drive, Dean Road, Fitzgerald Avenue, Green Walk, Hazeldene, Heathfield Road, Links Road, Manor Road, Micklefield Way and Southdown Road.

The first option would cost £15,000 to implement and the second £25,000. Both options would be funded from development contributions secured from nearby housing developments.

The consultation runs from Friday 1 November 2013 to Friday 29 November 2013, and the consultation questionnaire can be completed online

Responses from the consultation will be used to help decide which scheme, if any, should be introduced, with the decision being taken in February next year.