Speed limit to be cut at Stourbridge accident blackspot

Residents and councillors have raised concerns about the safety of Norton Road in Stourbridge. Council plans have now been drawn up to lower the speed limit to lessen the risk to pedestrians and motorists.

Bosses say that reducing the speed limit will also make it safer for people visiting nearby Mary Stevens Park and will have a knock-on effect of reducing the speed on surrounding roads.

The road has a history of crashes and in December 2011, 80-year-old Thelma Burley died after stepping into the path of a car at the location.

Although the inquest heard that the car was travelling at just 25 mph, council chiefs said the fatality and other accidents on the road had prompted them to call for a reduced speed limit.

Transport boss Khursid Ahmed said: "A scheme has been developed for the introduction of a new 30 mph speed limit.

"The proposals have been made as a result of a record of vehicle conflicts and a pedestrian fatality in December 2011."

The cost of the work needed to change the speed limit is expected to be £10,000. There were five objections to the scheme received by the council. Comments submitted during a consultation process included fears the 30mph limit would be ignored by drivers and concerns about increased congestion and pollution being caused.

There were also calls for the installation of a speed camera in the road. Elsewhere in the borough, plans to cut the speed limit in the Broadway, Dudley, were announced earlier this year.

Council bosses said the 40mph limit was no longer suitable for the road, which was mostly residential and a 30mph limit would make the road safer for pedestrians.

The proposal was supported by people living in the road and also the area surrounding it.

Meanwhile, proposals to introduce 20 mph speed limits or other safety measures on roads outside 11 schools in the Dudley borough were approved by officials in the summer. They had been identified as priorities following consultation with schools and ward councillors last year.

A more detailed technical evaluation of the sites is in the process of being carried out by council officers.

Schools could request to have the limits reduced outside their premises with council officials tasked to investigate further if needed.

But road layout and traffic flow have proved stumbling blocks for plans to introduce the measure on some main roads in the borough.