FURTHER to your report about 20 mph speed limits, I do not doubt the sincerity of all councillors in trying to reduce road casualties.

There is no doubt that excessive speed is a major cause of road deaths and I also agree that we need to change driver behaviour.

Inspector Harrison White, of Greater Manchester Police, defends 20 mph zones and argues “20 mph 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”.

That sounds fine, but most 20 mph limited roads in Bolton are not 20 mph zones and have no traffic-calming measures at all. When that is linked with a total lack of enforcement it is scarcely surprising that the speed limits are ignored.

The estimated cost of introducing 20 mph limits of £825,000 is, I believe, understated.

It only covers the period since 2015. I know that in my own ward of Smithills we introduced several schemes before that, spending at least £25,000 of area forum money on the promise that there would be some enforcement.

I feel totally let down by that promise not being kept.

I feel extremely sorry for the police who are trying to do an impossible job with reducing funding.

If there is not going to be enforcement of speed limits, the council needs to look seriously at its policy.

In suitable locations we will need to consider traffic calming after consultation with residents.

Roger G C Hayes

Smithills Ward