A SERIES of 20mph zones will be introduced in Smithills after residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of speed restrictions.

The zones will cover the area from Smithills School to Moss Bank Park, including Smithills Croft Road, Moss Lane and Barrow Bridge.

A survey asking whether there was a traffic problem in the area was carried out last April, after residents raised concerns with councillors about traffic.

Of the 102 residents in the Smithills Croft Road area who answered the survey, 95 thought there was a problem with traffic, while seven thought there was no issue.

Just four residents voted against a 20mph zone.

Cllr Roger Hayes, leader of the Bolton Liberal Democrats and a Smithills ward councillor, said: “I’m very pleased with the response of our residents.

“Hopefully this move will be positive. We hope it will change drivers’ attitudes to speed and I would like to think most drivers will slow down once these changes take effect.

“Children at Smithills School frequently walk on the nearby roads to and from school, so if we were to make the roads 20mph zones, it not only increases their chances of survival, but it could save the lives of motorists.

“There are also a lot of elderly people and families who live in the area, which was a big factor in our decision.”

Of the 79 residents in the Moss Lane area who answered the survey, 70 thought there was a problem with traffic, while nine thought there was no issue.

Of the 64 residents in the Barrow Bridge area who answered the survey, 52 thought there was a problem with traffic.

The zones, which will cost about £12,000, should come into effect at the end of the month, once engineers visit the area.

The leaflets handed out to residents last year revealed that, if hit by a car at 20mph, three per cent of pedestrians would be killed, while 97 per cent would survive.

When hit by a car at 30mph, 20 per cent of pedestrians would be killed, while 80 per cent would survive.