A call for a review of the criteria for the roll-out of 20mph zones in residential areas in Wirral has been rejected by a majority of councillors.
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.
Conservative leader and West Kirby and Thurstaston councillor, Jeff Green, put forward a motion at Monday’s council meeting asking for it to be paused for a review.
A petition calling on the council to explore alternatives has reached around 7,000 signatures, and council leader, Cllr Paul Stuart, faced a series of questions from members of the public who asked for detailed statistics about accidents on 30mph roads, wanted to know why community groups had not been consulted and were unhappy that the consultation outcome had been ignored.
Cllr Green said he knows that speed can be a serious factor in accidents as he previously worked for a road safety organisation. However he added that he believes councillors are receiving “multiple emails, comments and questions from residents” about the policy. He said its introduction had “taken a lot of people by surprise”, highlighting that just 728 responses were received to the consultations, compared to a population of 320,000 across Wirral
He called for a review of the criteria of residential areas, and argued that it is “truly ridiculous” to have a sign on the way into a cul-de-sac.
He was supported by fellow Conservative and Hoylake and Meols councillor, Andrew Gardner, who said there is “significant public disquiet” and the council should review what it has done so it can “bring along the public with us”.
Hoylake and Meols Conservative, Cllr Tony Cox, claimed that the policy will mean people get to spend “less time with loved ones”, reduce income for taxi drivers and impact on care workers travelling to see clients.
Liberal Democrat Cllr, Allan Brame, was against the motion, pointing out that there had been more people killed in road accidents in Wirral last year than were murdered, yet there had been no similar outcry. He said that talking to his constituents, a minority are unhappy, but the majority are supportive.
Labour’s Cllr Steve Foulkes said the policy is not big brother but “the council trying to protect your little brother”.
Green Party leader, Cllr Cleary, noted that 103 people were killed or seriously injured on Wirral’s roads in the last year, 77 of which were pedestrians or cyclists, and the figure has increased over the last three years. He added: “20mph is an effective way of reducing the carnage on our roads”.
Cllr Liz Grey, Labour chair of the environment, climate emergency and transport committee, said the scheme had been through the full democratic process, including road safety working group, committee and full council and has had cross party support. She questioned the impact on travel times, which she said would be minutes.
She said: “20mph will save lives and reduce the grief and suffering that so many families have to live with”. She added that she believed people will get used to it, in the same way as people had with seat belts and drink driving legislation.
Following a vote, the motion was defeated by 43 votes to 16, with one abstention.
