CALLS for the immediate removal of speed humps across Bolton were dismissed on Wednesday night by Bolton Council - but the possibility of them being dug up in the future was not ruled out.

Speaking at a council meeting, highways chief councillor David Wilkinson warned it would cost more than £4 million to remove the traffic calming measures from all roads in the borough.

The executive member for the environment said he wanted to wait for the findings of a review into speed humps before deciding on whether to continue using them.

He said the £4 million would be needed to remove signs, carry out work to roads, move street lighting and carry out consultation on traffic orders.

His comments came after Breightmet resident Justin Winch handed over a petition signed by 500 neighbours opposing the installation of speed humps in the area.

Cllr Wilkinson, a Liberal Democrat, said: "We will not start pulling up speed humps out of the ground now and we want to hear the views of all councillors on the findings of the review. I will try to get a block of this council to reach agreement but road safety and the lives of pedestrians will come first."

The Conservative group has produced a report calling for the removal of speed humps, describing them as "crude, ineffective and a danger to lives".

The 16-page document which has been circulated to all Bolton councillors claims speed humps impede the movement of emergency vehicles and buses, disturb neighbours and damage cars.

Conservative councillor Bob Wilkinson told the meeting there was overwhelming evidence that speed humps should not be installed and alternative traffic calming measures used instead.

He said: "You only have to speak to people in places like Smithills, Horwich and Farnworth who have experience of living next to speed humps to discover the problems they cause."

But Labour councillor Nick Peel said: "Speed humps save lives. The Conservatives' criticisms of speed humps are just opinion dressed up as fact."

Figures produced by the council show that accidents in areas in Bolton where speed humps have been installed fell by up to a third.