A £120,000 project which aimed to make the road safer in a part of the Sudellside area of Darwen by reducing the speed limit to 20mph has been only been a partial success.

A 20mph zone in the Sudell Road, Atlas Road and Kay Street area of the town was studied by the Traffic experts on behalf of the government to see what effect it had on the quality of life of residents and motorists.

Traffic surveys were carried out counting cars and monitoring speed and noise, and a survey was carried out among residents to find out what their experiences had been.

The report concluded that the restriction had been successful in reducing the amount of traffic which used the roads and noise had been reduced. But it also said speed had not been greatly reduced with drivers still often breaking the limit, and parents in the area did not feel it was safe for their children to play out on the streets.

A report which will be presented to councillors said: "Following the implementation of the zone, more than two thirds of residents who took part in the household questionnaire generally liked the measures.

"However a large number of respondents expressed negative feelings about some aspect of the 20mph zone, indicating that perhaps the measures have not achieved as much as hoped for."

The information will now be pooled with the findings of similar surveys in other 20mph sites throughout the country.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's highways and transport committee will discuss the report at a town hall meeting on Thursday, August 12.

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