THE number of people being killed or seriously injured on certain roads in the borough fell by almost a quarter after the introduction of 20mph speed limits, councillors have been told.

But more action has been urged to impose the speed limits outside schools. 

Cheshire West and Chester's Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a report on a four year speed reduction programme yesterday (Monday).

The scheme saw 202 new 20mph zones introduced across the borough in areas such as Winnington, Winsford town centre, Great Sutton in Ellesmere Port, and Vicars Cross in Chester.

The council’s own figures revealed that over the four years, there had been an overall reduction of 0.6mph in average speed across all schemes after 12 months of then being introduced.

There was a 43 per cent reduction in road traffic collisions, a 24 per cent reduction in people killed or seriously injured (KSI), and a 46 per cent reduction in slight injuries.

The committee was told that across all schemes, 134 areas saw average speeds decrease, while 63 areas saw it increase.

The council said there was an annual cost saving to the community in road traffic collisions of £3.7m per year.

The speed limits are enforced by police, with 357 fixed penalty notices having been issued between April 2021 and March this year.

The project was originally approved by cabinet in 2016 and was anticipated to cost in the region of £800,000 over the four years, but the meeting was told it had cost ‘around a million’ pounds.

Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for environment, highways & strategic transport Cllr Karen Shore told the meeting that 21,673 leaflets had been delivered to residents advising about the scheme, with 164 objections received.

She said this showed the ‘majority of people’ supported the schemes.

Committee member Cllr Michael Baynham, councillor for Winsford Over and Verdin, questioned why more of the schemes could not be introduced outside schools and said it was a particular concern at Whitegate Primary School in his ward.

He said: “A big ask is can you look at that again please and try and explain to residents why their school doesn’t have the 20mph?”

Cllr Shore said it was to do with budget constraints, adding: “It was a manifesto pledge that we made and we’ve done it within the parameters that were set.

I hear what you’re saying, it is important to look at safety outside schools and for me that’s the next step.”