Speed limits along an extensive stretch of a Herefordshire country road approaching an accident blackspot are to be cut sharply.
A traffic regulation order has been issued covering a 1.3-mile stretch of the B4203 from south of the village of Upper Sapey north to the High Cross (or High House) crossroads with the B4204, along which speeds will be cut from the national speed limit of 60mph, to 40mph.
The crossroads, between Bromyard and Great Witley, has been identified as one of two accident blackspots in Herefordshire due to share in £3 million of new safety measures, along with the Locks Garage junction southwest of Hereford.
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Upper Sapey itself meanwhile “meets the criteria for a 40mph restriction”, the council’s decision now says.
“Although the environment between the crossroads and Upper Sapey is relatively sparse in terms of development, introducing two separate speed limits would result in a very short section of national speed limit that falls below recommended guidance for minimum speed limit lengths,” it explains.
The 40mph restriction will also apply to the approach to the junction from both the Tenbury Wells and Clifton upon Teme directions, as well as to Church Lane though Upper Sapey.
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The TRO move was initiated by North Bromyard Group Parish Council, which includes Upper Sapey parish, back in September 2024, leading to a formal consultation last summer – which brought no objections.
But the council rejected a proposal by one member of the public to extend the speed limit even further, saying this “could encourage unsafe driver behaviour”.
Meanwhile a cut of speed limits around Locks Garage to 40mph has already had a substantial traffic-calming effect, locals claim, leading to questions of whether millions need be spent on more substantial interventions to make it safer.
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