COUNCILLORS have unanimously voted to push forward three 20mph zones in Westhoughton.

At a town council meeting, councillors welcomed the plans to implement three estates with the 20mph limit.

A consultation period for the three areas — Molyneux Road, Southfield Drive and the Metal Box Estate — is now open and will run until August 14.

Cllr David Chadwick said: “My personal aspiration is that the signs can go up by the end of the year.

“We want the signs to change the behaviour of drivers and we know that some people will still drive and see a speed limit as a minimum rather than a maximum but we have got to try and change that.

“Everyone knows that if you hit someone at 30mph their chance of survival is less than if you hit them at 20mph.

“Hitting an adult at 30mph could cause serious injury but it could kill a child.”

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.

Cllr Anne Graham said: "Residents have asked for traffic calming measures and we can't ignore that.

"It was only last Friday that someone came to me with a complaint of someone speeding on the Metal Box Estate so it is only a matter of time before someone has a bad crash.

"The 20pmh limit is something I completely support."