PEOPLE in an “idyllic” corner of Wirral are petitioning to get the speed limit dropped on their roads over concerns it’s being turned into “a race track.”

Off the back of a petition presented to Wirral Council, people living in Frankby and Irby told the LDRS they felt their roads were dangerous and it was “only a matter of time” until someone got hit.

At a recent Wirral Council environment, climate emergency, and transport committee meeting, Cllr Mark Skillicorn presented a petition on behalf of people living in the area raising concerns about the speed of cars down Mill Hill Road from Irby and Hill Bark Road into Frankby. Parts of each road are currently the national speed limit but some people who spoke to the LDRS said there was strong support to drop it to 30 or even 20mph in some places.

While there was disagreement about what exactly can be done to make the road safer from speed bumps and what speed limit was needed, almost everyone who spoke to the LDRS called for more enforcement by police to stop people whizzing through an area popular with walkers, horse riders, and cyclists. Places where stone walls had been knocked down or repaired after crashes were pointed to as one person said: “Thankfully it was a wall not a person.”

In Frankby village itself, one man said the roads were so bad one neighbour took matters into their own hands and dressed up a dummy as a policeman with a speed gun. Another resident said people were “racing round” at 60 and 70mph down Hill Bark Road regularly, adding: “Sometimes it feels like a race track.”

He added the current 60mph limit coming into Frankby was “ridiculous,” adding: “It’s dangerous. It’s a narrow country lane with some bad bends on it with no pavements. At the end of the day, it’s not designed for motorists.”

Another man who has been a resident in Frankby since 1988 felt the roads were getting worse as they became a cut through to get to West Kirby or Caldy, adding: “There are parts of the day where it’s just a little country lane which is idyllic but then it turns into something that is a rat run for people that are rushing to get home or to get to work.”

He added: “Why loads of more serious incidents haven’t happened, it’s just luck I guess. No one records near misses. It doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s definitely only a matter of time.”

Den Langhor has lived in Frankby for eight years and had signed the petition calling for the speed limit to be reduced. With walls on either side of Hill Bark Road, she said there was no escape for wildlife like foxes and she doesn’t let her cats outside because of cars on the road

She said: “See what it feels like at 60mph. I drive this road every day and I know it like the back of my hand and I still wouldn’t drive it at that speed. It’s absolutely bonkers.”

James Tipping has lived in Frankby for 22 years and goes walking first thing in the morning with his dog Piglet. He said: “It’s not made for modern traffic. It’s made for horses and carts,” adding: “I have to wear a high vis jacket. It’s very dangerous and they speed along. It’s difficult to get out even in the car. I have got to be very careful.

“They should reduce it. How many people will stick to it I do not know but I would be in favour of speed bumps being put in because they would force people to slow down a bit.”

Margaret Hughes, another Frankby resident, said: “I want 20mph. I am all for it. Where they want to put 20 they can,” adding: “It’s very difficult turning right because they come around that corner so quickly you can’t see them.”

Linda Conway from Irby who regularly rides her horses in the Royden Park area said: “I have noticed people going slower going around horses but you do get the occasional idiot. If people slow down just a little bit, it will just slow them down for just 20 seconds.”

She said on some roads “you are almost holding your breath until you have left the road,” adding: “There’s an awful lot of considerate drivers out there but it only takes one person. It’s just trying to make people see the situation from your point of view. People should try and see it from the other person’s perspective.”

As some of the roads in the area have walls on both sides or no pavements meaning if a horse panicked “the only place they can jump is into the path of an oncoming car,” adding: “It could happen to the most reliable animal but they are animals and they do not always see things in the same way we do.”

She added: “People need to be prepared for the unexpected. People just need to be aware and considerate because that person on the bike or out on a jog or on a horse is someone’s family member. They just want to get home safe without being run over.”

Greasby, Frankby and Irby councillor Mark Skillicorn called for action to be taken on the issue by the local authority, adding he and fellow Cllr Grahame McManus “experienced first hand the dangers of speeding and close shaves with cars while collecting the petition.”

He added: “Talking with householders, walkers and horse riders it became evident that these residents and their children have to navigate serious road dangers on a daily basis. We are very lucky to have two successful and cherished pubs at either end of this road, the Irby Mill and the Farmers Arms, both accessible from Roydon Park and other country footpaths and we should be able to enjoy the parks and countryside and our local amenities safely.”

A representative for the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership said they weren’t aware of speeding issues in the area but may look at further enforcement given the concerns raised. A device telling people they’re driving too fast is already up on the road and urged people to contact them directly if they have concerns or wanted to volunteer for a Safer Roads Watch initiative.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “Road safety is a high priority and the council is always happy to hear ideas from anyone who want to make Wirral’s roads a safer place for us all. When we receive a request or petition, it is looked into and if it is something that we are able to take forward, it will be included in our Combined Authority Transport Plan Capital Programme and presented for consideration by the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee. The committee will prioritise it against requests for schemes in other locations across the borough.

“Merseyside Police are responsible for enforcing speed limits across the Liverpool City Region and we work closely with our police colleagues to improve road safety as set out in the Liverpool City Region Road Safety Strategy. This includes initiatives such as the Safer Roads Watch programme as well as community engagement and rolling road safety awareness campaigns with schools and local businesses.”