16 July 2012

Lancs 20mph zones: 'waste of money'


James Evison

A local community in Lancashire has claimed the £9.3m introduction of 20mph zones across the county would be a waste of money in its area.

The village of Longton, near Preston, is due to receive £40,000 from the multi-million funding pot by Lancashire CC, aimed at introducing the programme of zones.

But local parish councillors have claimed the move is unnecessary, due to the lack of accidents in the area.

Issues arose specifically about the signage at a meeting with the county council, as an original designation of 12 signs was changed to more than 140 signs in and out of the small village to notify drivers of the speed limit.

Parish councillor Joan Wignall told the local paper: ‘ I can understand they may want to introduce it on rats runs in areas like Preston but we don’t have any rat runs, it is a waste of money.

‘Longton doesn’t have any accident problems and that’s what 20mph zones are for. You are lucky to even get up to 20mph on the rest of the roads in the village.

‘I am a cyclist but I think there are more important things to spend the money on.’

Various local authorities, including Islington LBC and Liverpool City Council, have already introduced 20mph zones across residential and minor streets.

The Department for Transport announced this weekend its plans to pass more local control of speed limits to localities – including incentivising councils to reduce rural lanes to 40mph from 60mph, as well as 20mph in residential and urban areas.



Your comments

Not just a waste of money - it sends all the wrong messages. It demonises motorists and suggests that they carry all the responsibility for road safety in the suburbs. It absolves parents from the responsibility of looking after their children and teaching them road safety and their own sense of responsibility. It basically says it's fine for children to play in the middle of the road and if anything happens to them it's all down to the evil motorists. It won't even stop irresponsible driving.

Nick, Leyland, Lancashire, Added: Monday, 16 July 2012 05:54 PM

"Longton doesn?t have any accident problems" apart from one person killed and five seriously injured in the last five years that is....

Robert Huxford, Director, Urban Design Group, Added: Monday, 16 July 2012 05:03 PM

Well said, Cllr Wignall, I agree that we should not just have blanket speeed limits. If there is no real problem why clutter the environment with lots of obtrusive signs? - 140 sounds like about 135 too many. Why not spend the money on cycling proficiency training for local kids or some such.

Diane Rotherham, Senior Engineer, Amey, Added: Monday, 16 July 2012 04:12 PM



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