PERMANENT 20mph speed limits look set to be introduced in three areas of Warrington, following temporary trial periods earlier this year.
Members of the borough council’s executive board are being recommended to impose the restrictions in the town centre, at Orford and Great Sankey.
Analysis of the trials has shown that the number of injury collisions fell by 25.5 per cent, with an average of 2,678 fewer vehicles using the affected roads each week. The average reduction in speed was 1.45mph.
But there was evidence that towards the end of the trial period, in August, average speeds could be increasing again.
Two key distributor roads included in the trials, the A50 Long Lane at Orford and Park Road, Great Sankey, will not be included in the permanent ban on the advice of the police.
Cost of making the 20mph restriction permanent is put at around £19,000, plus £1,500 for sending letters to people in the affected areas.
Council officers believe there could be benefits from a wider roll-out of the scheme, with a blanket coverage across the borough estimated to cost £740,000.
Officers say the financial implications of such a roll-out would have to be taken into account, particularly given the financial pressures expected over the coming years.
The trial already carried out included 140 roads and an additional 43 were included during the trial because of community concerns regarding a potential increase in “rat running” to avoid affected streets.
All the roads reverted to 30mph at the end of the trial.
Warrington has consulted widely among other authorities which have introduced 20mph bans.
Portsmouth was the first to introduce a blanket ban and experienced varying degrees of success. While there was a 13 per cent reduction in collisions and a 15 per cent reduction in casualties, the number of accidents where people were killed or seriously injured rose by two per cent.
PERMANENT 20mph speed limits look set to be introduced in three areas of
Warrington, following temporary trial periods earlier this year.
20 mph speed limits here to stay?
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
Two points.
1. I thought that the council had no money. Is this where the savings from our lost services is being spent?
2. Are the council hell-bent are driving shoppers out of Warrington altogether if they do it all across the borough?
Question….. WHY is it NOW going to cost £19000 to make the restriction permanent ?????
Reasoning…. it was trialed and small 20mph signs were erected (although then painted out) but presumably they are still there and can be re-used so what other costs are now involved or is it to cover LARGER sighn so people actually see them??
As for a blanket rollout of 20mph across borough…. PLEASE NO !!!! IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE although obviously there would be more income from spot speeding fines… ie 10% + 2 mph = speeding ticket and 3 point for 24mph for those who may inadvertantly drive over the limit EEK.
“The average reduction in speed was 1.45mph.” Is this really a key indication of the scheme’s success?
“an average of 2,678 fewer vehicles using the affected roads each week”
Thats because most drivers who could avoid them did. How about look at rates on the rest of the roads atround Warrington. I think it didnt stop anything, just moved it elsewhere
Good point and shows how statisitics can be misleading.
Nope… it shows that the average driver was actually doing 8 mph ABOVE the trial speed limit. Part of me suspects that many drivers still presumed the roads were a still 30 zones and as such were probably driving at 1 mph below the original limit…… I did it myself on the trial 20mph road near Warrington Collegiate and only noticed the new rather small speed signs after I had been down it 4 times OOPS !!!