Wirral Council has launched a search for people to champion its 20mph zones.
West Kirby was one of 15 residential areas included in phase one of the roll-out, with signage and road markings installed in the spring, and Hoylake and Meols are set to be included in phase two.
However, the scheme has not been without criticism, and a petition calling for the council to explore alternatives, set up by a Wirral resident, has so far amassed almost 3,500 signatures.
However, in a statement on its website following the closure of consultation on phase two of the scheme, the council has outlined the case for their introduction.
It said: “All areas earmarked for slower speed limits are routes that are predominantly residential or stretches of road that pass by shopping areas, past schools or near hospitals, with the primary aim to slow traffic down in busier areas, making roads safer places for local people and all road users.
“The consultation process is not to ask people whether they agree with the introduction of 20mph speed limits, it is to gather constructive feedback based on a resident’s knowledge and experience of their local roads to ensure the speed limit is implemented and operated effectively in their area.
“The decision to lower speed limits on certain streets across the borough has already been made by councillors on the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee. This was to bring Wirral in line with national plans to make roads safer for everyone who uses them; it was a key recommendation from Wirral’s Road Safety Working Group and is part of Wirral’s contribution to the Liverpool City Region Road Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce the number and severity of road traffic collisions working to an overall ‘vision zero’ target by 2040.
“Introducing a 20mph speed limit reduces the chances of a collision – as well as the severity of any injuries from any collision that might still occur. As ‘Think’, the road safety charity, states ‘a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death. The faster you drive, the less time you have to stop if something unexpected happens’.
“Funding provided as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement – which underpins much of the Combined Authority Transport Plan – is being invested in the 20mph project. This is money that can only be spent on schemes that will make roads safer and encourage more active travel, such as walking and cycling.”
The council has now launched a search for people to champion the zones, including volunteering to monitor the speed of cars through its ‘Safer Roads Watch’ scheme. This leads to police sending letters to those who are detected speeding.
People can also apply to be sent stickers for wheelie bins, posters and car stickers supporting the scheme.
More information is available at https://haveyoursay.wirral.gov.uk/20mph-champion.
