Nigel Pepper and David Kempton praise new 50mph speed limit at Radar Junction in Crowland

The new 50mph speed limit at an A16 junction has been backed as a remedy for unsafe driving.

New signs were installed at the A16/B1166 junction at Crowland last week, bringing the limit down by 10mph.

This came after a number of proposals and trials dating back to 2019, which included blocking right turns into the junction - known locally as Radar Junction.

Nigel Pepper, who represents Crowland on South Holland District Council and Lincolnshire County Council, has been amongst those campaigning for action.

He says he attended many road traffic collisions at the location during his time with Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue - and is pleased to have got the changes over the line.

He said: “The design, planning, decisions of the road layout and construction were all completed prior to myself becoming a county councillor, I therefore found myself inheriting numerous problems and being left somewhat to ‘pick up the pieces’.

“During my time as county councillor and constantly campaigning about the dangers of the junction, red markings were introduced a few years back which define the road markings clearer.

“Along with the introduction of average speed cameras, this has clearly made the junction safer and has undoubtedly resulted in less accidents, many of which speed was a contributory factor.

“More recently a trial was suggested to block off some of the side junctions, however this resulted in strong local opposition, and the proposed trial was therefore abandoned which I supported at a LCC Planning Committee meeting.

“At the meeting a maximum speed limit of 50mph through the junction was agreed upon to which the signage has been installed this past week, this will also improve safety at this junction further to which I very much welcome.”

Crowland Parish Council chairman David Kempton also backed the move - although he believes more has to be done in order to make the road safer overall.

Because crossing at the junction can feel like a ‘heart-in-mouth job’, Coun Kempton suggested a flyover or a roundabout as a long-term fix - but admitted those projects may prove to be too expensive.

“It’s very much a palliative - it doesn’t solve the problem of a lousy design of junction,” he said.

“The 50mph limit will, if there’s a collision, hopefully reduce the impact of the collision. It might give people a little more thinking time.”

Philip Green, the parish council’s vice chairman, added: “It’s pleasing to see it come down. It’s a shame it hasn’t come down to 40.”

The junction turns from the A16 onto James Road and Thorney Road.