FORMER Mayor Cllr Roger Hayes has rejected claims 20mph zones improve driver behaviour — unless they are backed up by enforcement action.

The Liberal Democrats group leader said: “They are totally ignored in a lot of areas, people are driving up to 50mph in Smithills Croft Road which is absolutely stupid.

READ MORE: Bolton's 20mph zones - no police enforcement, no point?

“My view is that 20mph speed limits are very effective if people keep to them. Obviously pedestrians lives are very, very important. But I’m concerned that, to my knowledge, there’s been no police enforcement.”

Cllr Hayes says he knows from his own experience that many drivers take no notice of the signs.

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He said: “ There are a small minority that will drive at 20mph. I have driven along them and have had people behind me hooting me and trying to get past. It does not work they are totally ineffective if they are not enforced.”

And Cllr Hayes, says an argument could be made that the £825k investment should have been spent elsewhere.

He said: “In the overall council budget, it’s not a large percentage but to the average man in the street, it’s a fortune.”