Hundreds call for speed limit cut on Wirral road

For years campaigners have asked the council to cut limits on Mill Hill Road and adjoining Arrowebrook Lane in Irby from the national limit of 60mph to 30mph or 40 mph. The petition was set up three weeks ago after a car hit a lamppost in Mill Hill Road.

The council says there have not been enough accidents to warrant a change, adding that it will monitor the situation. But more than 250 people have so far signed a petition calling for action.

In an email to the Globe one campaigner, who asked not to be named, wrote: "The council says there are not enough accidents to reduce the limit.

"They say there is not enough money. However, they have reduced the speed limits in Pump Lane, Greasby and Heron Road, Meols.

"I have been campaigning for seven years. you would have thought they'd do something. You'd think they were waiting for a death before doing something."

The petition was drawn up by Mill Hill Road resident Sheila Humphreys following a crash over the road from her home on the night of June 15. A teenager was taken hospital after his car crashed into a lamp post.

Twelve days later, on June 27, firefighters removed the roof from a car using hydraulic equipment to help paramedics move a man following a collision involving two vehicles on the same road.

And on Thursday firefighters removed the roof from a car using hydraulic equipment to help paramedics move a man following a collision involving two vehicles.

They helped paramedics lift the man from the car onto a spinal board and carried him to a waiting ambulance.

Two men were taken from the scene to hospital. The accident involved a car and a small van.

Recalling the incident on June 15, Sheila Humphreys told the Globe: "We found the teenager in the car and at first thought he was dead.

"But, luckily, then we heard a moan and knew he was still alive. That's when I decided to do something, because I never want anybody to have to go through that again. The speed limit definitely has to change."

Helen Rooney, owner of Redstones Livery in Arrowebook Road said: "There's an accident waiting to happen around here.

"You’re dicing with death everytime you try walk from home to the pub or the shops. It's a nightmare and the situation seems to have got a lot worse over the last year."

Farmer Roy Smith lives in Mill Hill Road and one of his cows was hit by a speeding car after they were being led out of his farmland over the road.

He said: "It was a crazy situation. The motorist rang up later to say sorry for knocking the cow down. Nothing was done. I got in trouble for letting the cow out."

If you want to add your name to Sheila Humphreys’ petition, it can be found at Forget-Me-Not cardshop in Thingwall Road, Irby. There is also a copy at Irby Library in Thurstaston Road.

A council spokesperson said: "A panel consisting of independent consultants, police, traffic managers and road safety officers reviewed the speed limit on Arrowebrook Lane as part of a wider review, ordered by Government, into speed limits on all A and B roads.

"In Wirral, we extended this process to include a number of additional, strategic C class roads, including Arrowebrook Lane.

"The conclusion of the panel was that the speed limit should remain at 60mph having considered a variety of factors, including the speeds of traffic, the nature of the road, flows of traffic and road safety records.

"In response to local concerns, we have introduced additional signage and road markings on Arrowebrook Lane in an effort to make motorists aware of the possibility of horses being on the road.

"But, based on all the information the Council has on the road and using national guidelines, we don’t believe it is justified to reduce the speed limit on all or part of this road at the present time, though we will obviously keep this under review.

"We will consider any representations we receive from local residents, but will continue to base decisions on speed limits and other traffic management issues on a range of factors."