A raft of speed limit reductions across North East Lincolnshire have been backed by councillors this week.
The council's speed limit select committee has made seven recommendations which will now go before the regeneration and environment scrutiny panel.
Local Government Reporter Simon Faulkner outlines the proposed changes
Reduce the speed limit through Aylesby village from 40 to 30mph: The committee backed the proposal to cut the speed limit along Main Road to 30mph. However, it voted to keep the 40mph zone on Nooking Lane, to the west of the village, in place. John Spilan, the owner of Manor Farm, Aylesby, said he had "no objection" to the proposal – but he saw no need for it.
Reduce the speed limit on the B1210 in Healing from 40 to 30mph: Councillors agreed to extend the existing 30mph zone east on Great Coates Road to near the bus stop and west on Stallingborough Road to the junction with Wells Road. Although no-one from the Parish Council was available for comment at the time of going to press, it had given evidence in support of dropping the speed limit in line with the recommendations as part of the public consultation.
Reduce the speed limit on the B1210 between Healing and Great Coates from 60 to 40mph: Councillor Philip Jackson (Con, Waltham) said he was initially opposed to this proposal, but decided to support it because otherwise there would be several changes of speed limit on a relatively short stretch of road. He said: "Frequent changes in speed limits can be confusing for motorists." Great Coates resident Nicola Maasdam, said: "Because there were five speed limit changes between Great Coates and Healing, if they make it a bit more uniform, it makes it easier for drivers to adhere to the speed limit. "I hope it will also reduce the speed of traffic approaching Great Coates roundabout, as it is really difficult to get out of Great Coates because of the speed of the traffic from the right."
Retain the 60mph speed limit on the A1136 between the Great Coates roundabout and the Great Coates Interchange: The committee rejected the proposal to cut the limit on this section to 50mph. Great Coates resident Nicola Maasdam, said: "I am pleased they are keeping this road at 60mph up to the interchange. I don't see any reason for that to be lowered."
Reduce the speed limit along the A18 Barton Street from 60mph to 50mph between Laceby Top roundabout and the county boundary at Ludborough, with a 40mph section between the Beelsby and Hatcliffe junctions: The committee voted 3-2 in support of this proposal. Councillor Jackson agreed with reducing the speed limit to 50mph between Laceby Top and Ashby Top, but suggested that the 60mph limit should be retained south of that. He said: "The road straightens out considerably, the sightlines become much better, and I don't think there are the same risks involved as there are on the other stretch of the A18." However, Councillor Terry Thurogood (Lab, Croft Baker) argued that for consistency's sake a single 50mph limit would be better. Councillor Jackson also put forward a number of other safety measures, including adding solid white lines in the middle of the road to deter overtaking and warning signs on stretches of the road liable to flooding. This was supported by the rest of the committee. Jason Abrams, the club professional at Laceby Manor Golf Club, said from a safety point of view, the changes would be welcome – but only if they were enforced. He said: "If they are taking the speed limits down, it is good from a safety point of view – especially for people coming in and out of the golf club. "There are a lot of blind entrances and exits, but how people enforce it will be the key to whether it makes a difference or not. "People will always do the speed they want to do."
Reduce the speed limit on the A180 between the Pyewipe and Lockhill roundabouts from 70 to 50mph: The committee voted 4-1 in support of this reduction. Councillor Jackson said that most of the collisions on this stretch of road occurred at the roundabouts, where the speed limit was already 30mph. He said that a "substantial group of drivers" would not find a 50mph limit "credible" and as a result there would be a low level of compliance. Councillor Thurogood said the problem was the difference in speeds, suggesting that drivers would enter the roundabouts slower if the speed limit was cut to 50mph. Councillor Karl Wilson (Lab, Heneage) added that the sections between the roundabouts were short that they required harsh acceleration and braking in order for vehicles to reach 70mph. Michael Clarke, of Concrete Gardens, in Flour Square, said he used the road "three or four times a day" and had no objection to the change. He said: "It will add about a minute to the average journey and, if it improves safety, it can only be a good thing. "Okay, it is a duel carriageway, but it is in a built up area and it's only a short stretch. There are no barriers either."
Reduce the speed limit on "residential access roads" in the East Marsh and Sidney Sussex wards from 30 to 20mph and introduce traffic calming measures: The committee voted 4-1 in favour of this proposal. Councillor Jackson questioned whether traffic calming measures would be an effective use of "limited resources." He said: "A lot of the roads we are looking at are very narrow and it is very difficult to drive at more than 20mph on them anyway. I'm concerned we are going to end up spending substantial amounts of money and not getting any significant benefits in terms of road safety." However, Councillor Thurogood said that the evidence from Hull City Council showed conclusively that "traffic calming saves lives." Councillor Wilson said that traffic calming didn't necessarily mean speed humps, adding: "It might be a sign in the road. It doesn't have to be a speed hump or a chicane." East Marsh ward councillor Steve Beasant, said: "I am over the moon that, at last, they are taking some action. To me, 20mph is plenty and it will not slow traffic, as sometimes it is slowed anyway. Getting from A to B will be just the same, but 20mph will save lives and I am concerned about children. That's all that matters to me." Sidney Sussex ward councillor Chris Shaw said: said: "We are in favour of reducing the speed reductions within Sidney Sussex, but we would also like to see some streets become one way. People drive both sides of the street which is a risk, but they also park down them, too."
