Plans to cut speed limits on parts of Norfolk's main coast road have been scrapped after an outcry from communities.

Norfolk County Council has been consulting town and parish councils over proposals to reduce the limit from 60 to 40mph on the A149 between Hunstanton and Sheringham.

Officials also wanted to impose lower limits through some villages along the route.

Eastern Daily Press: Plans to cut speed limits through villages including Titchwell have also been shelvedPlans to cut speed limits through villages including Titchwell have also been shelved (Image: Chris Bishop)

But Andrew Jamieson, the authority's deputy leader, said the scheme has now been shelved.

"We held a consultation and the results of that came back quite polarised," he said.

"Some were very much in favour, some were very much against. So I've decided let's do something else. 

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council's deputy leader Andrew JamiesonNorfolk County Council's deputy leader Andrew Jamieson (Image: Norfolk County Council)

"We've been looking at the fact the north Norfolk coast is quite a special place, it's also quite a fragile place.

"We need to do sustainable things, we need to take people with us."

READ MORE: Change would mean it would take longer to drive to Cromer than London from Hunstanton

READ MORE: Plans revealed to cut limit from 60 to 40mph on parts of Norfolk coast road

Hunstanton Town Council opposed the plans. It said if they went through it would take longer to drive to Cromer from the town than London.

It said the move would lengthen journey times and have a "negative impact" on the emergency services, along with peoples' lives and businesses.

Eastern Daily Press: Hunstanton mayor Mike RustonHunstanton mayor Mike Ruston (Image: Hunstanton Town Council)

The town's mayor Mike Ruston said: "These speed restrictions will have a negative impact on their lives and businesses, whether it is the time to commute to work, or the need for deliveries to be made, or even more concerning the time it takes blue light services to respond and particularly ambulances to take emergency cases to hospital."

Eastern Daily Press: Holiday traffic queues on the A149 through HunstantonHoliday traffic queues on the A149 through Hunstanton (Image: Chris Bishop)

Hunstanton Town Council called for evidence on why the changes were needed - along with Brancaster Parish Council, which asked for facts to show why the limit should be reduced.

In Burnham Overy, the parish council also questioned the need to cut the limit through the village from 30 to 20mph.