A SERIES of new 20mph zones could be rolled out across a number of roads in the town in an attempt to increase rates of walking and cycling.

According to St Helens Council research, the volume of traffic and vehicle speed can deter people from physical activity, particularly women, children and the elderly.

Funding from the council’s public health team will be used to create restricted areas on the Burnage Avenue estate in Bold, the Concourse Way and Berrys Lane areas of Parr, the Forest Road area of Sutton Manor, Gaskell Street in Parr and the Ridgewood Drive and Ravenstone Drive in Sutton.

Andy Bowden, cabinet member for Public Health and Well Being, and his colleague Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron, the cabinet member for environment and neighbourhoods, are both backing the changes.

Cllr Bowden supports the theory that controlling traffic speed will encourage more people to take exercise.

And Cllr Gomez Aspron said: “Very often it’s simply people’s perceptions of injury risk that deters them from walking or cycling or letting their children go to school on their bike.

“Lower traffic speeds create better perceptions of safety and of course reduce the actual danger too. People with limited or restricted mobility also find access and travel to places less restrictive in areas with slower speed limits.”

Objections need to be made in writing to the council no later than Thursday, February 12, specifying on what grounds.

It is also proposed to install traffic calming measures on the Burnage Avenue estate, Concourse Way and Berrys Lane and on Ridgewood Drive and Ravenstone Drive.

There will be similar measures proposed for Windle Hall Drive.

Relevant documents can be inspected at Wesley House on Corporation Street between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.