A TEMPORARY 50mph speed limit has been introduced on an infamous Evesham accident blackspot in a bid to improve road safety, highways chiefs have revealed.
National Highways has confirmed it will put a temporary limit in place along the stretch of the A46 at Hinton Cross where there have been a number of fatal accidents in recent years.
Villagers living along the A46 first raised their concerns about the road last year won support from Pershore’s MP Harriett Baldwin who has lobbied National Highways and the Department of Transport since the issue was raised.
Mrs Baldwin first wrote to the agency last year urging it to expedite road safety solutions to prevent serious road accidents along the A46 where people in the surrounding villages turn on to the busy road.
The MP also met with parish representatives and visited the local primary school to hear reports of how dangerous stretches of the road have become – particularly in difficult weather conditions.
The Observer reported in July on calls from the MP for the process to be speeded up in a bid to curb the number of incidents on the ‘dangerous’ stretch of road.
Highways chiefs have revealed the new speed limit – which will be trialled for 18 months – is one of a number of measures which are being developed to reduce the number of accidents along the busy stretch of road between Ashchurch and Evesham.
Mrs Baldwin has also asked National Highways to develop a plan to improve the road configuration at the Hinton Cross junction as well as identifying road signage and barrier improvements.
The West Worcestershire MP said: “This has been a slow process, but I am pleased that National Highways has come forward with this speed limit plan.
“The area covered by the speed limit is yet to be confirmed but it also comes with a commitment that police will enforce the limits and continue to monitor this stretch of road.
“As the nights draw in and the weather worsens, I am concerned that there will be further accidents.
“Action cannot come quickly enough, and I hope that this is the first step towards much safer car journeys for my constituents,” she added.
