North Runcton and Pentney parish councillors back National Highways plans for new A47 speed limits following fatal crashes near King's Lynn
Councillors hope residents will no longer have to “take their lives into their own hands” thanks to new speed limits on the A47.
Earlier this month, The Lynn News revealed that National Highways - responsible for the road - is planning to introduce a series of safety measures between the Hardwick roundabout and Pentney to “reduce significant injury collisions”.
The decision followed two tragic incidents on the road earlier this year, including a horror crash which resulted in Lynn man Aurelijus Cielevicius pleading guilty to causing the deaths of a family of three.
Further upgrades may include improvements to highlight road layouts, new signs and new road markings.
And now, councillors from two villages along the A47 have backed the introduction of reduced speed limits.
Rick Morrish, chairman of North Runcton Parish Council, said he and fellow members were “broadly supportive” when consulted on the plans.
The village is connected to the A47 by New Road, and Cllr Morrish says attempting to join the A road can be made difficult by vehicles travelling “very quickly”.
He said: “So we certainly think that if there is a slower speed limit, then that will make things a little safer - although we asked at the time if it will actually be enforced with speed cameras, and they said there was no plan to do any enforcement.
“I think we can say that people are always concerned about that junction with New Road.
“I think any locals of North Runcton will say driving along the A47 and round the Hardwick roundabout, you see something atrocious just about every time you do it.”
Cllr Morrish added that he would support a new bus stop along the A road to cater for North Runcton residents travelling to Norwich.
He said their current options are to “take your life in your hands” by walking to Middleton with no footpath, hitch a lift, or travel to Lynn first.
Rosie Littlehales, who chairs Pentney Parish Council, has also backed the National Highways proposals.
“The road is fast and potentially dangerous, and I think the residents in Pentney would welcome a lower speed limit at the junctions onto the A47,” she said.
“The traffic, and particularly the huge lorries, thunder down the A47.
“At the Pentney junctions, there’s no lowering of the speed limit, so you can sometimes, if it’s heavy, be taking your life in your own hands as you’re pulling out.”
Another incident on the road in January resulted in it being closed between the A1101 at Wisbech and the A17 near Lynn after a man collided with a tree and died.