After a nine-month long campaign, councillors have agreed to increase the speed limit on the town section of Grimsby's Peaks Parkway from 30 to 40mph. Local government reporter Simon Faulkner asks motorists for their reaction to the decision.
MOTORISTS have expressed their relief that "commonsense has prevailed" after North East Lincolnshire Council voted to increase the speed limit on the Peaks Parkway to 40mph.
It comes after a petition signed by almost 2,000 people was presented to full council in December last year.
Campaigner Hayden Dawkins, who called for a protest to bring the town to a standstill, said: "I'm pleased that we have got a result at long last. It's never been dangerous and putting it to 40mph will not make it any more dangerous than it is now.
"It should never have been 30mph in the first place and the police should never have put an objection in. If they have concerns in the future they could alter the timing of the lights.
Hayden, 49, of Cleethorpes, added: "I'm pleased that commonsense has prevailed. It's a pity it has taken such a long time to prevail. So many people have been issued with speeding tickets since the objections came in.
"I'm not a massive supporter of speed cameras but after seeing some of the boy racers down there before the cameras were installed I think they are a good calming measure."
Karen Webb-Meek, 48, pictured, of Humberston, signed the petition after three members of her family – including herself – were slapped with six speeding fines within the space of two days.
She said: "I think it's sensible that they have changed it to 40mph because it was ridiculous that it was 30. I think it's ridiculous that they have got lots of speed cameras but they won't take those out because it generates too much money, and if it's 40 not so many people will be caught out."
Karen said she had avoided the road since for fear of creeping over the limit again.
"Once somebody spoke to me in the car and I took my eye off the clock and went up to 35 and thought 'oh my God, I'm going to get a ticket!' but thankfully I had enough time to slow down."
Andy Carr, 36, of Humberston, who also signed the petition, said the 30mph limit was "crazy".
He added: "At night you end up trundling along at 30mph on an empty road and it feels like you are not getting anywhere. The road is so wide and there are no houses along it.
"For once there seems to have been a bit of commonsense by the councillors. I think 40 is bang on the mark. I don't think you would want it any quicker."
George Penrose, 87, of Louth, received his first ever speeding ticket in 65 years of driving after creeping over the limit on the Peaks Parkway last October.
He was clocked at 36 and 38mph and accepted the invitation to go on a speed awareness course run by Humberside Police.
He said: "I think it's a very sensible move. It should never have been 30. One person on the course was a lorry driver caught at four in the morning, another was a nurse that had come off a night shift.
"When the police say that accidents have been cut down it isn't the accidents in the road, it's the traffic lights at Weelsby Road because the green light to turn right is on for too short a time. The problem isn't on the straight parts, it's on the corners."
George said he would continue to avoid the Peaks Parkway, even when the limit is raised to 40mph. "I shall still avoid it because I have found an easier way for peace of mind down Waltham Road and Louth Road."
John Tidswell, 39, of Grafton Street, Grimsby, was furious when he got a ticket, but says going on the speed awareness course has made him a much better driver.
He said: "I think it's the right move, but it actually did me a favour because the speed awareness course changed my whole approach to driving.
"I am a lot more conscious and a lot more aware. But even so I still don't use that road."
John Bradley, 74, of Bowman Way, Immingham, who received two speeding tickets, said: "I think it's a good idea. It is just a straight road with no side entrances or gateways and no obstructions whatsoever."
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