Westy Low Traffic scheme costs £80,000, which council say is low cost compared to other transport schemes

THE controversial Low Traffic Neighborhood scheme implemented at Westy has so far cost around £80,000 to implement including almost £8,000 to amend the scheme following opposition from local residents.

Funded with government money in a bid to reduce traffic and pollution in local neighbourhoods, the council say, compared to many other projects across the borough it has been “low cost.”

Also if the trial scheme is deemed unsuccessful, a significant number of materials, including controversial planters which have blocked off Grange Avenue, can be used elsewhere in the borough.
Warrington Borough Council agreed to make some amendments to the trial scheme following a public survey – although those objecting say the changes don’t go far enough.

A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “Funding to implement the trial Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme in Westy was received from the Department for Transport’s active travel funds, which were awarded to councils and other public bodies to introduce schemes that would support people to adopt cleaner, greener transport methods and to address local traffic pollution issues, in line with government policies and guidelines.

“Compared to many other transport schemes across the borough, this has been a low-cost project, with approximately £70,000 of the active travel funding used to implement the scheme, and a further £7,950 spent on amending the scheme. These costs include advertising costs such as distributing letters to all households in the locality, and physical installation including the bollards, planters and signage.
“If, for example, at the end of the trial period the measures are removed in full, a significant number of the materials, such as planters, bollards and signs will be available to be re-used elsewhere in the borough.”

The council has been awarded funding from the Department for Transport, through the Government’s Active Travel Fund, tranches 2 and 3. Within these allocations, approximately £230,000 is currently identified for the installation of local access improvements within the Central 6 area, with Orford and Westy identified as focus areas for experimental Low Traffic Neighbourhood treatments.

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