A149: Proposals to cut speed limit from 60 - 40mph

The county council has asked parish councils for their views on reducing the limits along the main A149 between Hunstanton and Sheringham.

In a letter outlining the proposals, it says surveys show most drivers using the affected stretches already don't travel above 40mph, so the limit could be reduced.

There are proposals to cut the limit from 40 to 30 through the village at Titchwell (Image: Chris Bishop)

Proposals also include cutting the limit through Burnham Overy Staithe from 30 to 20mph and reducing the limit through Titchwell and Holkham from 40 to 30mph.

But Brancaster Parish Council is demanding more information on why the changes are needed in the first place.

Brancaster parish clerk Simon Bower (Image: Ian Burt)

In its response to County Hall, it says the consultation is "a subjective presentation of the situation, which did not give any facts".

Parish clerk Simon Bower added: "In particular, the [parish] council felt that such a consultation should include accident statistics, and a much more extensive fully presented case for the proposed change – details of traffic volumes and changes during the year would help."

Daniel Loose (left) with Pete Julian by the harbour at Brancaster Staithe (Image: Chris Bishop)

Boatyard owner Daniel Loose was also unimpressed with the proposals.

"Such speed restrictions can be a real nuisance when trying to go about one's work," he said.

"When the road is busy it's not possible to go much over 40mph, but when it is clear, at night in the winter, it's perfectly safe to go at the de-restricted speed limit of 60mph." 

Fellow villager James Julian said: "It'll be difficult if you have a slow-moving vehicle to overtake them safely within the speed limit."

Mary Wacey, who runs the Crab Hut by the harbour, said she was in favour of the changes.

Mary Wacey at the Crab Hut by the harbour at Brancaster Staithe (Image: Chris Bishop)

"That makes sense because the loons come through here at 90mph," she said. "They do fly around on that main road.

"You get that on Sutherlands Corner, that old tree keeps getting a hiding. If there's going to be an accident it's usually there."

Burnham Overy Parish Council has also questioned the need for the limit to be cut from 30 to 20mph through its village.

Burnham Overy Parish Council is opposed to reducing the speed limit through the village to 20mph (Image: Ian Burt)

It said in its response: "Burnham Overy Parish Council consider a 20mph limit where proposed unenforceable, inconsistent and unnecessary.

"Stopping and starting acceleration through villages has unnecessary environmental impact for a questionable safety gain."

Not every council opposes the changes. Wells Town Council is in favour.

The county council said in a letter to parishes: "Funding has been made available to consider lowering the existing speed limits along sections of the A149 between Old Hunstanton and Sheringham, mainly the sections between villages.

Brancaster Parish Council is challenging proposals to reduce the speed limit on parts of the A149 between Hunstanton and Sheringham (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We have now had a chance to consider the necessary quantitative and qualitative data, which included site observations, several site meetings and traffic monitoring.

"The results of these traffic surveys indicated that a large proportion of traffic was travelling close to 40mph along much of the route.

"It is therefore proposed to reduce the existing National Speed Limit to 40mph along these sections of the A149."

A County Hall spokesman said public consultation over the changes would be carried out later this summer.