New 20mph zones will be introduced across Wirral on more than 1,700 roads after councillors from all parties voted to support the move.
The zones will reduce the speed limits in many built up and residential areas and were praised by councillors who said it would make roads safer and save lives.
This was despite opposition from members of the public to every proposal, though it was raised the numbers against the plans in a council consultation were small compared to the number of people affected.
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The introduction of the zones is expected to cost £350,000 with funding coming from the Liverpool City Region and will cover 1,764 roads. The zones will be rolled out over the next year and is expected to begin being introduced soon.
Cllr Steve Foulkes said: “We have done 20mph zones but only on a piecemeal basis in certain areas. We’re all familiar with them in our wards so we’ve got some evidence there and what they can do."
He added: “We need to go back to basics to remind the public the difference between being hit by a car at 30 miles per hour and being hit by a car at 20 miles per hour is significant and significantly reduces the chance of death.
“I think lives will be saved. What cost can you put on a human life?”
The 20mph zones would impact parts of Wallasey, New Brighton, Bromborough, Prenton, Birkenhead, New Ferry, West Kirby, Caldy, Spital, Eastham, Claughton, Rock Ferry, Oxton, Seacombe, Woodchurch, Leasowe, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Gayton, and Heswall.
Councillors were disappointed with the low numbers of people who engaged with the surveys. In Wallasey, 114 people opposed the plans out of a population of 28,000. This equals about 0.4% of the population and 919 people responded in total to the entire consultation.
Cllr Ian Lewis said he wanted to see more “intensive engagement” going forward, adding: “When people are aware of it, where they have traffic concerns, a lot of people would welcome this.”
Cllr Lewis praised the work of officers in developing the proposals and pointed to similar zones brought in by Cheshire West and Chester Council where data showed collisions had decreased by 22% where it had been introduced.
Officers said Wirral would have similar data to see whether the scheme was working and the proposals would be enforced by the police. The zones are Phase 1 of a three-stage plan to roll out 52 20mph zones across Wirral.
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