20mph speed limit plan is a token gesture by Wirral Council

I have used inverted commas on proposed intentionally because this letter is supposedly a consultation exercise by the council.

A consultation exercise by Wirral Council on a proposed 20mph speed limit across the borough has been slammed as a “token gesture” by a local resident.

Philip Jones, from Pensby, said the terms of the consultation were “restrictive” and that it was clear the council was “only paying lip service” to the feedback it received.

The consultation, which was launched last month, is seeking feedback on the council’s proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit on all residential roads in the borough, except for a small number of main roads.

The council said the move would form part of its contribution to a Liverpool City Region initiative to improve road safety and reduce accidents.

But Mr Jones said the council’s definition of road safety was “dubious” and that the real aim of the scheme was to cut Wirral’s contribution to the environment.

He added that the council’s suggestion that volunteers from the public could be involved in enforcing the speed limit was “disturbing” and that it showed the council was “not serious” about road safety.

In a letter to the council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr Liz Grey, Mr Jones said: “I have used inverted commas on proposed intentionally because this letter is supposedly a consultation exercise by the council.

“However, so restrictive are the terms of the consultation it is clear that it is a token gesture only.

“It will only consider a comment valid if it gives reasons relating to a specific area or road included in the proposals.

“Thus, one cannot object to the scheme in total, as that would be ignored as being invalid. In any case, the likelihood is that the council will crack on with the roll-out whatever objections are raised.

“The answers to frequently asked questions contained in the letter make interesting reading.

“Contrary to what most people think that it is about road safety, the letter makes it clear that it is Wirral’s contribution to a Liverpool City Region initiative under the environment umbrella, with a ‘vision’ to eliminate road accidents by 2040.

“The initial cost of this scheme was in the order of £350,000 and who knows how much more it will cost if it runs another 16 years to realise a vision that is totally absurd.

“Accidents happen.

“In dealing with the environment it admits that it has not been conclusively proven that it benefits the environment driving at 20mph.

“It also admits the limit ‘could’ help a reduction in vehicle emissions.

“As to enforcing the 20mph limit, the council says Merseyside Police will be responsible for enforcing it.

“I very much doubt that the police management are happy at being given this responsibility.

“Have the police got the resources needed?

“Have the police not got enough on their plate dealing with real crime?

“The council obviously knows that tasking the police with enforcing it is unrealistic because, and this is really disturbing, it wants volunteers from the public to be involved.

“It is asking people to volunteer to be ‘champions’ for the scheme and for individuals to be ‘a Safer Roads Watch’ person, to be trained in using a hand held speed camera.

“This means that this council is encouraging vigilante groups to be doing the work the police ought to be doing.

“Next month the Welsh government is reverting roads back from 20mph to the previous 30mph limit in the face of massive opposition from the general public.

“The Wirral public opposed to this scheme must protest in every way possible to make this council follow the Welsh government’s mature decision-making.”