National Highways has revealed plans to cut the speed limit on a busy stretch of the A120 in Essex in a bid to reduce accidents.
The agency is set to reduce the 60mph speed limit between Marks Tey and Braintree to 50mph and a consultation has been launched to that effect, says the Braintree & Witham Times.
Parts of the road have become accident blackspots in recent years, with Essex Police confirming that a pensioner had died after a crash on the A120 near Coggeshall as recently as 13 August. The road was subsequently closed between Marks Tey and Marks Farm roundabout.
Marks Tey and Layer ward councillor Jackie Maclean said: “60mph has worked for so long, but it is always too congested anyway – 50mph would be acceptable. I wouldn’t mind it being 50pmh, but we need to move things on, everything is gridlocked.”
Coggeshall ward councillor Tom Walsh also backs the plan but believes that it should be reconsidered at some junctions along the road.
“I think it is sensible to simplify and standardise the speed limit to 50mph as a general default but with one major exception. For example, coming into Coggeshall, one junction is very dangerous from Earls Colne to Coggeshall – that should remain 40mph, I believe it has a high accident rate.”
