NEW speed limits on a Wirral road have sparked anger and frustration among some drivers.

The reduction from 70 mph to 40mph on Fender Lane, known as the Bidston bypass, was introduced last month and has caused a stir with drivers who believe the change was unnecessary.

One Globe reader said: "That road is a dual carriageway with a central reservation and is predominantly straight and in a non-residential area with no adjoining roads, albeit until the final section. Why such a ridiculously low speed limit?"

However, Cllr Lesley Rennie, cabinet member for streetscene and transport services, said the new restrictions were needed in order to help prevent collisons and improve road safety.

She said: "The decision to reduce the speed on this stretch of road was taken after a detailed safety assessment, carried out as a result of lessons learned from the Selby rail crash in 2001.

"In the wake of that incident the Highways Agency reviewed the standards of safety fences and barriers on all major roads.

"The original object of the assessment on Fender Lane was to determine whether road restraint barriers were needed to prevent vehicles leaving the carriageway should a driver lose control.

"From the assessment, it was clear that if the road was built today, to current standards, then a road restraint system would need to be installed on the central reservation in order to reduce the risk of vehicles colliding at high speed with oncoming vehicles on the opposing carriageway.

"For the majority of this stretch, the existing central reservation was too narrow to accommodate an effective barrier system so a decision was taken to reduce the 'derestricted' speed limit to 40mph, thereby reducing the risk whilst retaining consistency with the Bidston Link Road, which is also subject to a 40mph speed limit."