Calls for speed limit on A52 at Donington to be reduced for pedestrian safety

Fears that an accident could happen as more people try to cross a major road has sparked calls for the speed limit to be cut — with a decision due today (Monday).

Donington councillor Jane King has asked for the 60mph speed limit on the A52 which runs at the top of the village be slashed to 50mph in a bid to improve the safety of pedestrians.

Increasing numbers of people are crossing the A52 from Northorpe and Bicker Road - with some pedestrians waiting in the middle of the road while traffic clears - since the arrival of the new Co-op at the top of Church Street.

Coun King would like to see a refuge island placed in the middle of the road to provide a safe waiting space for pedestrians and hopes the proposal to reduce the speed limit will be the first step.

Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee will be discussing the speed limit cutting proposal - which the report states is a ‘borderline case’ - during a meeting on today (Monday December 2).

Coun King, who also sits on South Holland District Council, said: “At the end of the day all I am bothered about is people’s safety.

“Footfall has increased since the new Co-op opened and I am pushing for the speed limit to be reduced.

“We have got people with buggies and small kids along with older people who have to wait until the road is completely clear and sometimes it can take a while.

“This is the first step and I am going to try to push for a refuge to be put in.”

Coun King has received reports of people waiting in the middle of the road to wait for a clear space which is prompting safety concerns with the speed of traffic using this major road.

There have also been reports of lorries stopping on the A52 in order to visit the Co-op.

Coun King fears that more accidents will happen as result of the current situation - but is also putting out an appeal for more people to report collisions.

She said: “My worry is that there could be a lot of accidents.

“There have been several accidents around that area but as they are minor they do not get reported to the police.

“But if these are not reported to the police, they cannot add it to their data. There is nothing to show that a number of accidents have happened in that area so they need to be reported.

“Reducing the speed limit is just the first step and then we can look at something further.”

A report to the Planning and Regulation meeting states that the A52 at Donington is being assessed as a ‘rural speed limit’ and the criteria takes into account injury accidents and traffic flow.

The score given by officers to this road has been 56 and meets the criteria to be considered.

The report states: “The committee may therefore recommend a reduction in speed limit to 40mph at this location.

“The police however have been informally consulted on this matter and are of the view that a 50mph speed limit would be more in keeping with the environment and conditions along this route.

“As the enforcing authority they believe that a lower limit would not be observed by the majority of drivers and high levels of non-compliance would be generated as a result. In addition, a lower limit here may lead to driver frustration and more overtaking manoeuvres, risking an increase in collisions.

“For these reasons, the committee is asked to consider a 50mph limit as opposed to a 40mph limit, as either option will meet the terms of the policy.

“For information, two reported injury accidents have occurred on this section of the A52 during the last five years.”

Have you tried to cross the A52 at this point? Tell us your experience in the comments below…