A46 near Evesham to be hit with lower speed limit, National Highways confirms

Following months of campaigning, a section of the A46, which currently is 60mph, is to see a new speed limit introduced in a bid to improve road safety.

The stretch of road between Evesham and Ashchurch has been the site of numerous fatal and serious crashes over recent years.

A 40 or 50mph speed limit will be introduced, at first temporarily, and has been celebrated by campaigners.

Lucy Fletcher, who was involved in a serious crash on the A46 seven years ago, with her then six-month-old daughter also in the car launched a petition to improve safety which has so far received more than 6,000 signatures.

She said: "It's a step in the right direction!

"Not a big enough one but it's a start. There still needs more work.

"I think the whole stretch needs various restrictions on it and clearer signage for the not-so-obvious junctions to country roads immediately off the A46.

"Hopefully the new restrictions will at least save some accidents but it would need to be closely monitored to make any difference."

The new speed limit will be trialled for 18 months however National Highways has not yet been able to confirm if it will be 40 or 50mph.

HOW WE GOT HERE: 

• PCC 'committed' to making A46 safer following series of fatal crashes
• MPs demand action after fatal crashes on A46
• Major plan to improve key route through Evesham in bid to remove accident blackspots
• Concern over delays to A46 safety improvements after nine months of inaction

Lucy Fletcher was involved in a crash on the A46 seven years ago with her six-month-old daughter in (Image: Lucy Fletcher)

READ MORE: Petition sees surge in signatures after fatal crash on A46

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin, who has also campaigned for measures, said: "This has been a slow process, but I am pleased National Highways has come forward with this speed limit plan.

"It also comes with a commitment 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.

" I hope this is the first step towards much safer car journeys for my constituents."
Mrs Baldwin said she was first approached by villagers living along the main road last year.

Since then she has lobbied for a formal safety review of the road and wants to see other new safety measures introduced, including vehicle activated signs and improved road signage and barriers.

She also wants National Highways to develop a plan to improve the road configuration at the Hinton Cross junction.

Worcestershire county councillor, Adrian Hardman, added: "I am pleased to see the parish councils on the route pleading for better road safety is finally being responded to.

"It's great Harriett got a meeting with the right people to make this happen, since it is not only a speed limit but also better signage and better drainage to lower the accident rate on this very dangerous stretch of road."

Fiona McKenzie, National Highways route manager, said: "We take safety extremely seriously and are looking to implement a temporary 18-month speed limit reduction along a section of the A46 from north of Hinton Cross to south of Sedgeberrow north turning.

"The safety data from this will help us determine next steps.

"We are in the early stages of discussing these plans with police.

"We're also designing vehicle-activated signage to be installed at Hinton Cross to improve awareness of drivers turning onto the A46 and have already completed work in the area, including renewing road markings and installing specialist signage, designed to minimise damage should a vehicle collide with it."