NEARLY £1m has been spent on installing 20mph zones across Bolton’s residential streets - but they are not enforced by police. Nick Statham reports.

Some £825,000 has been spent on creating 20mph zones all over Bolton since 2015 in a bid to improve road safety.

Largely funded through a one-off £1m pot they have been rolled out everywhere from Farnworth, Great Lever and Halliwell, to Bradshaw, Breightmet and Bromley Cross – covering 3,700 residential streets.

READ MORE: 20mph zones DO work

Flashing speed warning signs have also been installed outside 56 of the borough’s schools.

But police do not carry out enforcement operations in the areas, leading some to question whether they can possibly be effective.

They claim the zones are self-enforcing by nature as they include other traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and chicanes.

And supporters of the schemes also believe that most drivers adapt their behaviour accordingly when driving in a zone.

READ MORE: 20mph speed limits 'totally ineffective'

But critics say that without the threat of a fine acting as a deterrent, many drivers are routinely flouting 20mph limits, rendering them a pointless waste of money.

The debate broke out at last week’s full meeting of Bolton Council when Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Roger Hayes raised the issue.

The former mayor declared himself a “great supporter of the principle of improving road safety measures in residential areas.”

But he questioned how effective 20mph restriction could be in curbing the excess speeds of some motorists if police never carry out operations to enforce their restrictions.

Addressing the council chamber, he said: “Before the commencement of 20mph schemes in my ward I asked previous Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd for assurances the police would support them by some enforcement.

“Quite rightly he pointed to police resources, which I think we all accept, but he did give assurances there would be some enforcement and subsequent publicity to get the message home. I was reasonably happy with that but am concerned there doesn’t seem to be any enforcement.”

And Cllr Hayes said the zones would “soon run into disrepute” if significant council funds were used and without effective enforcement to ensure they were not ignored by reckless drivers.

Responding to a question from Cllr Hayes, Cllr David Chadwick, the council’s highways and transport chief, told the council that £825,000 had been spent on 20mph zones since 2015.

He gave the breakdown as £675,000 from the council’s capital funding, £100,000 from developer contribution ‘Section 106 monies’ and £50,000 from area forums.

But, speaking to The Bolton News after the meeting Cllr Chadwick said the 20mph restrictions were more about influencing driver-behaviour than an enforcement initiative.

He said: “My attitude is we have got to change the way drivers behave. There are some people complaining bitterly that on some road idiots are driving along in excess of 60 mph.

“I’m concerned that, because we have less police around, there’s a danger that some poor child is going to be knocked down and killed.”

Cllr Chadwick said he was “not aware” of any police enforcement operations that have taken place in Bolton to ensure 20 mph speed limits are being adhered to.

But he added they were widely used as a tool to improve road safety in residential areas across both Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

The roll out of 20mph zones across the borough has been a talking point in Bolton for several years.

Six years ago a campaign calling for 20mph zones to be installed in all the borough’s residential streets was launched by Bolton Green Party.

Some 140 Daubhill residents signed a petition for the “safe zones” to be introduced to their area,while Green Party leader Alan Johnson urged the council to roll them out across Bolton.

Growing concerns over pedestrian safety resulted in councillors supporting a 2014 motion to make all residential roads in the borough subject to 20mph limits.

Cllr Norman Critchley gained the support of the council chamber with a plea for child safety.

But it wasn’t until the following year that the authority create its £1m pot capital funding pot.

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.

“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.

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.”

THE self-enforcing effects of 20mph zones do help to save lives and cut down on accidents, a police officer insists.

Critics claim that most drivers will ignore the zones if there is no possibility of being caught speeding.

But Inspector Harrison White, of Greater Manchester Police road policing unit, says their value should not be underestimated.

Insp White said: “We work hard to make our roads safe and 20mph zones are one of the many measures we use to make our roads safer.

“20mph zones are designed to be self-enforcing using traffic calming measures such as speed humps, road narrowing and central islands which naturally slow vehicles down to speeds below the limit.”

And he warned that those who ignore 20mph limits are putting the lives of pedestrians and other road users at risk.

He said: “Speeding can have devastating consequences — not only does it increase the risk of collisions occurring, but it can affect the severity of those that do take place and in the worst case scenario can be fatal.

“The speed limit is there to protect all road users and should always be adhered to. Motorists should reduce their speed if the conditions are poor and ensure they drive in a responsible manner so they don’t put themselves or others at risk.”

And Inspector Harris’ support for the zones is echoed by Cllr Ann Cunliffe, Bolton Council cabinet member for safeguarding and looked after children.

Cllr Cunliffe says there is “strong evidence” that the zones are effective and that pedestrians are less likely to be killed or seriously hurt if hit at 20mph rather than speeds of 30mph and above.

She said: “The 20mph limits were introduced to promote more considerate driving and it does encourage the majority but unfortunately you will always get the few who ignore that.

“I know that if the police are informed there are considerable issues with breaking the speed limit, especially around schools, they will put that on the list.

“But, to me, it’s self-enforcing as the majority of drivers are really considerate — it’s their families and children out on those streets and crossing those roads.”