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Residential Wirral set to become a 20mph zone


MORE than £270,000 has been allocated by Wirral Council to set up 20mph zones in all residential areas throughout the borough.

The cash has been earmarked by the Labour and Liberal Democrat administration's budget proposals announced this week.

The Lib-Dems, who spearheaded the scheme, say it has "demonstrated our strong commitment to improving road safety."

The new road safety policy will introduce 20mph zones in all residential areas.

The budget makes a provision for £275,000 to be allocated this year as part of a £1.1m rolling four year programme to reduce traffic speeds.

The funding is for introduction of a statutory 20mph speed limit on non-major routes in all residential areas and for variable speed signs for schools on major routes where there are higher numbers of vulnerable road-users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The new policy will be phased in over four years, with priority given to schools and their surrounding areas. Each stage will be subject to consultation with local residents.

Councillor Jean Quinn, cabinet member for Streetscene and transport said: "Following the success and popularity of our voluntary 'Accidents Down 2 Zero campaign', which has reduced average traffic speeds in the trial areas, I am very pleased that we have been able to give funding priority to road safety by introducing 20mph zones across Wirral following a previous commitment by council to looking at the feasibility of this idea.

“In recent years, Wirral Council has made excellent progress in reducing road traffic accidents but there is always more that can be done.

Speed is one of the key factors in reducing both the number and severity of road traffic accidents.

"A pedestrian, if struck by a vehicle at 20mph, is likely to suffer slight injuries; at 30mph they would be severely hurt and at 40mph or above, they are likely to be killed.

"This is why it is so important that we do all that we can to protect pedestrians and reduce the speed at which traffic moves around the Borough in locations where these vulnerable road users are most likely to be."

She said additional measures such as speed humps will not be needed.

And she added: "I strongly believe that by introducing 20mph zones in this way it will make our roads safer for everybody."


THE GLOBE

oh great this means speedbumps everywhere and we'll be as slow as milk floats. 30mph is perfectly fine. all that needs to be done is for people to learn how to drive properly, show the cyclists that cycle lanes exits and teach kids the existance of traffic lights and crossings. of course the council will try to "improve" our roads by removng roundabout and insert confusing traffic light systems as a replacement (St James Roundabout anyone?)if i ever drive and i see one of those politians or council members on the road i'll make sure to go the extra 20.

about time too

The signs are only advice.They make absolutely no differance if they cant police thirty MPG what 20MPH

A number in a round red circle is a limit which must be obeyed.

Good idea. Speed restrictions save lives. Fact.
People first. Motor vehicles last.

Sod it, lets reduce them even more and just go to 10mph, even more lives saved that way

read again ...



I am curious how they are going to police it, if they can't police it now how come they will be able to when 20mph comes in?

They are not able to police it. The hope is the BIRD BRAIN SPEED MERCHANTS {BOTH MALE AND FEMALE BY THE WAY] will take notice of the signs and slow down. They introduced the 20 MPH signs on are estate a few months ago {THE HOMLANDS} at the bottom of Holm Lane for those that dont know where it is. The speed merchants still drive along the road that takes you in to and out of the estate {Holmlands Drive} like bats out of hell.

If i was a environmentalist and a green, which i am certainly not, and perhaps a expert on car engines and the burning of fuel can correct me on this, isn't it bad for the environment for everyone to be crawling around, Wasn't one of the reason that the congestion charges were brought in was to stop this. If i ever get run down by a car, whether it be at 20mph or 30mph, i might have a better chance of survival at the lesser, but if I'm on the road, i only have myself to blame, i don't expect the motorist to pay for my moment of stupidity.

20 mph wont make a jot of difference.

And all you people thinking these councillors care and are doing it to save the poor bayyybbbieeesssssss are sadly deluded. If that was the case, and saving lives was the priority, there would be speed (not safety.....) cameras outside EVERY junior school on Wirral.
Count the schools. Now check on speed camera positions. Its money, pure and simple.
Vehicle engines are far LESS efficient at lower speeds, thats why if you check for the old miles per gallon figures on a car, they are given at 56 mph and 75 mph, as they are the 2 most optimum engine speeds generally. The fact that we cant legally do 75 is neither here nor there. Thats the best figure a manufacturer can give and also why trucks are restricted to that figure. Running a car at 20 mph is extremely polluting. But they use a LOT more fuel, so more tax for the unGovernment. Win win win.

Incidently speed has never been a factor in any accident, its the UNAPPROPRIATE use of speed that can kill. And that my friends is down to education, NOT regulation.

20 mph wont see a single difference in anyones life or death, its a scam.

This does seem to be like the dog-licence fiasco where the law-abiding people get affected more than the outlaws.