A LARGE area of Westhoughton is set to become one of the borough's first 20 miles per hour zones.

Plans have been put forward to introduce 20 mile per hour limits in parts of Westhoughton, including Southfield Drive, Molyneux Road and the Metal Box estate.

The proposed schemes have been put together after local councillors heard sustained concerns from residents living in the area about the speeds which drivers using the roads were travelling at.

The scheme is expected to cost about £18,500 in staffing costs, legal fees and signage, with money coming from the Westhoughton town centre improvement plan.

A consultation will be held and if approved, the signs could be put in place within the next six months.

The plan fits in with Bolton Council’s vision to bring in 20 mile per hour limits in all residential areas across the borough.

Earlier this year it was announced that Little Lever would be the first ward in Bolton to have the speed limit installed across its entire residential road network — with work currently taking place to prepare those plans.

David Chadwick, leader of Westhoughton Town Council and Bolton Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This has come about because of the work of a number of local councillors who have responded to the concerns of residents.

“This has been a long-standing aspiration for people and we are a step closer to achieving it.

“You cannot legislate for every driver but we are aiming to slow-down the overall traffic in the area so that no one is killed or injured.”

The plan has been welcomed by residents.

Lawrence Iredale, aged 71, of Park Meadow, said: “I think this is brilliant news. I have been calling for something like this to happen for a while now and have been speaking with Westhoughton councillor David Chadwick about it.

“It is exactly what is needed around here because we don’t want to have to wait for an accident to happen for things to change."

Mr Iredale has lived in the area for 30 years and believes the problem of people driving at high speeds has got worse.

He said: “It has certainly become more of a problem. There are big goods vehicles that drive very quickly in the area and it is very dangerous.

“There is also a doctor’s surgery and I think sometimes people are late for appointments and again they go too fast.”