A VETERAN councillor believes a campaign to introduce a 30mph speed limit on the A120 as it passes through a north Essex village should be revived.
For the past decade, residents in Marks Tey have called for the speed limit on the key road to be lowered from 40mph following a series of accidents and near misses.
The Gazette launched a campaign in 2004 calling for Essex County Council to introduce the restriction before responsibility for the road was handed to the Highways Agency that June.
But the campaign, backed by then constituency MP Bernard Jenkin, failed after highways bosses refused to make the order – saying the needs of residents had to be balanced against those of motorists using the busy road.
Now, the call has been revived after a man and woman had to be cut free from their BMW after they were trapped between two HGVs near Godman’s Lane on Monday afternoon.
Marks Tey Parish Council chairman Nigel Fitch said: “We just want the speed limit cut and some safety measures put in place.
“It’s so important and so urgent.
“There’s been accidents all the way along there, but unless there are serious injury accidents, they’re not recorded.
“There are 2,000 people living on that estate and they have got to be considered.”
About 200 residents wrote letters in support of a 30mph limit, more pedestrian crossings and wider footpaths.
One crossing has been put in between Old London Road and the roundabout, but little else has changed.
An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear that residents have concerns following the recent accident, and we will take on board the issues raised.
“If the parish council would like us to formally pass on their concerns and issues about the A120, we would be happy to do that on their behalf.
“We would encourage them to write to us to raise concerns they may have so we can do that.”
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “We take all incidents on our roads seriously.
“At this moment in time, we do not know the cause of the collision and, therefore, do not know if inappropriate or excessive speed was a contributory factor.
“The Highways Agency routinely monitors the safety of the A120. In January 2010, we undertook a review of speed limits in Essex and concluded from the collision data that the speed limit in Marks Tey is appropriate.
“Currently, the collision rate is below the national rate for this type of road.
“We will continue to closely monitor the A120 and other trunk roads.”
and take appropriate action ensure the road network remains open and safe.”
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