Next phase of 20mph limits is rolled out

New limits: The new 20mph signs in Cross Street. Below: Vali Birang, the county councils head of sustainable transport and safety

The streets to the north and west of St Annes town centre are involved in phase four of the £9.2m countywide scheme, introduced by highways authority Lancashire County Council as a key road safety measure.

Rural Fylde was among the first local areas to see controversial lower limit signs go up, and the rest of Fylde has followed over the past two years.

The order for the latest streets involved came into effect last Monday.

ParkWise staff win award
The attached image shows L-R: Graham Harding, Executive Director of Environment, County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, Hamza Desai, ParkWise Team Leader and Vali Birang, Head of Traffic and Safety. Cllr Tomlinson presents Hamza with the award on behalf of the ParkWise back office team who can be seen in the background. — ParkWise staff win award The attached image shows L-R: Graham Harding, Executive Director of Environment, County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transportation, Hamza Desai, ParkWise Team Leader and Vali Birang, Head of Traffic and Safety. Cllr Tomlinson presents Hamza with the award on behalf of the ParkWise back office team who can be seen in the background.

Use of the new, lower limits has split opinion, with critics saying signs alone do not slow down speeders.

Enforcement in other areas has come in the form of Community SpeedWatch schemes, where volunteers work with police officers to man speed guns on streets where there are complaints the limits are being ignored.

Although those caught speeding could receive a visit from a police officer or be prosecuted, they are generally sent warning letters telling them to slow down.

But Vali Birang, the county council’s head of sustainable transport and safety, said the new limits are effective.

He added: “We’re now completing the final phase of the programme to introduce 20mph speed limits in residential areas.

“Where communities have concerns about speeding we’re continuing to work with police and local people to monitor speeds, influence drivers’ attitudes, and enforce the limit.

“The community road watch and school watch activities have been well supported, and we’ll continue these activities to support the 20mph schemes.

“Interim results of an independent assessment into the early phases of the programme show overall casualties have reduced by nearly 30 per cent in the areas studied, which is very promising.”