THE proposed roll-out of 20mph speed limits across the borough of Warrington will cost an estimated £740,000 – and it could take 10 years to complete.
Roads where the new limit will be imposed will be prioritised – and the first to be dealt with are likely to be the more densely populated town centre and Orford areas.
These are among proposals in a report to be presented to the borough council’s environment and housing overview 
and scrutiny committee tomorrow (Tuesday)
In the main, the 20mph limit will be applied to residential roads – that is, where there are at least 21 dwellings.
But other considerations will be schools, shops and other buildings attracting pedestrians.
The limit will not be introduced on primary emergency service routes or primary bus routes nor key link roads, such as distributor, spinal or key connective roads.
Funding for the roll-out will come from Warrington’s Local Transport Plan (LTP). But funding for this has been cut by 40 per cent due to Government funding reductions which means less money will be available for all LTP projects, including the roll-out of 20mph.
Based on the 2011-12 funding allocation of £75,000, the roll-out could take up to 10 years, although it may be possible to obtain funding from other sources to reduce this period.
Predictably, the “20s Plenty for Us” campaign actively supports the planned lower limits.
But Warrington Borough Council is concerned that 20mph limits on key bus routes would make it more difficult to maintain and improve existing timetables – something seen as essential if more people are to be persuaded to use buses instead of cars.
Cheshire Police point out that some routes are not suitable for 20mph limits and this could lead to confusion and frustration among drivers, leading to aggressive overtaking and tailgating.
The police have also made it clear that there must be a clear defiance of the speed limit by a substantial number of drivers before enforcement could take place.
Areas to be affected in the first year of the roll-out will be Milner Street, Warrington Hospital, Orford Lane, Cockhedge Centre, Bold Street, Wilderspool and Heath Road.
In the second year, areas include the Peace Centre, Dallam, Orford Park, Alexandra Street, Bruche and Howley.
The areas to be dealt with last – possibly in the 10th year – include parts of Croft, Burtonwood and Winwick, Grappenhall and Thelwall, Appleton, Hatton, Stretton and Walton, Lymm and Culcheth and Glazebury
Ten years to complete 20mph campaign
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About Author
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.
10 Comments
When the report says the Peace Centre, is this referring to its car park or Cromwell Avenue? If it’s Cromwell Avenue then there’ll be an outcry because it’s a main feeder road. If it’s the car park then who drives at 30mph in a car park and if they do why haven’t they sorted it out before now. That bit just doesn’t make sense?
Bill, it is all nonsense and the whole agenda is being driven by a bunch of lycra clad cyclists who refuse to use the very expensive cycling lanes which have been installed because it must slow them down or something….. and then insist on slowing motorised transport down because they feel threatened and intimidated on the roads and try to cover this up by claiming it is to keep pedestrians safe!!! Surely it is simple: Cars = roads, cycles = cycle paths, pedestrians = footpaths and use crossings or (heaven forbid) common sense when they wish to cross the roads…..
It will be Peace Drive which is the road which leads to the Peace Centre and the High School entrance.
GS…. it would be difficult to accelerate beyond 10mph in a bloomin’ Ferrari down that road…. but no doubt they will waste money putting signs up just in case!
waste of time and money sack the idiots behind this farce and save a bundle
Waste of money, time and effort. Will drastically affect the already frustrating traffic in Warrington.
Some of these locations are ridiculous. The peace Centre is effectively just a car park where you’d be lucky to even reach 20mph. And what’s all that about Warrington Hospital, it’s already got a 5mph limit that nobody takes any notice of.
I think names like “Peace Centre” and “Warrington Hospital” are intended to identify the immediate area around those buildings
The immediate area around the Peace Centre is Cromwell Avenue and Sankey Way……
Please, please no more waste of time and money on this project. It is clear that the residents, who incidentally, have not been consulted, do not want this. I agree that we should get rid of the people who WBC employ on this project and use the money saved for front line services. Once more this demonstrates just how out of touch the Borough Council is with its residents!