New speed limits set for minor roads (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

New speed limits set for minor roads

9:10am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

TOWN Hall bosses are set to introduce 20mph zones along dozens of minor roads in a bid to save lives.

A new report suggests Bury Council will start by putting traffic-calming measures outside 39 of the borough’s schools; 19 already have them.

One person died, 25 people were seriously injured and 216 were slightly injured in road collisions on minor roads in the borough between January 1, 2009, and November 30, 2011, council statistics show.

Bury’s traffic manager Ian Lord said in the report that road alterations could prevent 22 injuries a year and save the NHS £796,000.

The work would cost the council at least £200,000 a year for at least the next three years. Cul-de-sacs will stay as they are, as will main roads, except for Stephen Street in Elton; Newbold Street, Harvey Street and Fenton Street in Ainsworth; Millett Street, Tenterden Street and Wellington Road in Bury; and part of Market Street in the town centre.

The move follows successful trials in Knowles Street, Radcliffe, and in Watling Street, Affetside.

Streets where vehicles travel below 25mph on average will get 20mph speed-limit signs, while streets where vehicles travel above 25mph will get speed humps and other traffic-calming measures, as well as signs.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of the road safety charity Brake, said: “This limit is a more appropriate limit for built-up areas because it gives drivers far more chance to react in an emergency and avoid hitting someone.

“It makes walking and cycling safer and delivers a host of benefits to communities.”

The council’s neighbourhoods representative, Cllr Gill Campbell, said: “A key aim of the project is to change the culture in the borough so that speeding in residential areas is seen to be dangerous and anti-social.

“This scheme will have real impact on the safety of the residents of borough.”