Speed limits may be lowered on two key Newark routes

Speed limits could be cut on two main routes into Newark.

Lincoln Road and Hawton Road, which have 40mph limits, would be reduced to 30mph under new proposals.

Via, which manages roads on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, said the lower limits would better reflect the built-up nature of the areas and would be in-keeping with side roads off them.

As part of the proposal, an off-road cycle path would be introduced on Lincoln Road, from its junction with Winthorpe Road to Harvest Drive before crossing to the other side of the road.

It is suggested that a reduced speed limit on Hawton Road would encourage more people to cycle along it.

Newark Town Council, which supported the lower limits, said the county council should also consider a 30mph limit on Beacon Hill Road.

Town council leader Mr David Lloyd said that would mean all roads leading into Newark would have 30mph speed limits.

Mrs Gill Dawn, who represents the Lincoln Road area on Newark and Sherwood District Council, welcomed the speed reduction.

She said: “We have been campaigning for this for a long time and residents will be delighted.

“There is going to be a cycle track and it has been very difficult for people going to work at Knowhow on their bikes who have been riding on the path, which has been affecting pedestrians.”

Mrs Dawn hoped a lower speed limit would make the road safer and discourage speeding.

“Lincoln Road is a totally different area to what it used to be,” she said.

“It was quite a quiet road but it has certainly changed, particularly with McDonalds and KFC there.”

'Everybody drives far too fast'

Mrs Maureen Dobson, the county councillor for the area, also hoped a limit cut would deter speeding drivers.

“You have got a church, you have got Bridge Community Centre and you have a lot of elderly people down there, so I think it is a good thing,” she said.

Mrs Dobson said the new speed limit would be enforced and urged motorists to slow down.

“Everybody drives far too fast,” she said.

Not everyone is in favour of the proposals, however.

Mr Keith Girling, county councillor for the Hawton Road area, said he did not support a reduced speed limit.

“I think 40mph is a perfectly acceptable speed limit for the road,” he said.

“We have carried out a Community Speedwatch on Hawton Road and most people actually drive sensibly there.

“People living down there have a grass verge, the footpath and their driveways, and visibility is good so I don’t know why they are doing it.

“To my knowledge there have not been any accidents, so I don’t see that it is necessary.”

Feedback from public consultation carried out by Via will be discussed at a forthcoming meeting of the county council’s communities and place committee, ahead of a final decision on implementing the new limits.