Villagers welcome lower speed limit

Denise Waters (right), who is pictured with Caroline Giddings (left), said "we can't wait" for the speed limit to be implemented

Villagers have been looking forward to the introduction of a 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures along a rural road that was six years in the making.

Residents in Southrepps, between Mundesley and Cromer in Norfolk, say too many people drive too fast along the narrow roads, that currently have a 30mph limit.

Tim Adams, the Liberal Democrat leader of North Norfolk District Council, said he had been left "frustrated" that it had taken so long for work to begin in the "lovely quintessentially English village".

Three weeks' of work to install 20mph signs and to construct kerb buildouts at three locations throughout the village, will start on Monday.

Dennis and Linda Hammond hope the new safety limits will not be ignored

Dennis Hammond, 79, said he welcomed the new measures as drivers "go so fast, they don't take their safety properly".

He believed the new limit would make a difference but "they'll still speed, but they might do 30".

Linda Hammond, 76, said the traffic calming measures being introduced "will help".

"The High Street is really dangerous when you're walking a dog," she added.

Kami Matthews, who works in Southrepps, said the work being carried out was a good idea

Kami Matthews, 18, thought the reduced limit was a good idea and said she regularly saw speeding drivers.

She added: "It's a nice little village and it shouldn't be so dangerous to be around here, it will be lovely."

Lorraine Geary, 61, said: "Some cars go by so quickly, we have a staggered crossroad here, and it's an accident waiting to happen."

She hoped it would lead to drivers slowing down.

Denise Waters, 67, said: "We've been waiting a long time for this and we can't wait for it to be implemented, I'm very happy.

"I'm hoping it will make a bit of a different to our lives in this village."

Lorraine Geary lives in Southrepps and is happy about the changes that are due to be carried out

Caroline Giddings, 64, has lived in the village for four years and said traffic had increased in that time.

"Traffic comes through the village way too fast, at 40, 50; it will be just so much better and give us more time to be able to get out of the drive and to be able to see," she told the BBC.

Adams praised villagers "who asked for it and they've helped fund it".

"Southrepps is a really lovely quintessentially English village, it's very picturesque but it has a tight road through the centre of the village," he said.

While the work was being carried out, road closures on Thorpe Road, Sandy Lane and Gimingham Road will be in force, with diversions in place.