Calls to cut speed limit at accident blackspot

There have been four serious accidents in the past five years at the crossroads in Whisby, near Lincoln

People living close to an "horrendous" accident blackspot near Lincoln have backed a proposed cut to the speed limit to improve safety.

There have been four serious accidents in the past five years, and a car flipped onto its roof in a 2018 crash, at the staggered crossroads between Whisby and Doddington.

Whisby Road, Eagle Road, Doddington Road and Thorpe Road all meet at the busy junction and nearby residents want the speed limit dropped from 50mph to 40mph.

Lincolnshire County Council is due to discuss on 2 December whether to slow traffic on all four approaches to the junction.

Trevor and Carol Robbins, who have lived in the area for 30 years, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There’s been more than enough accidents.

“Sometimes we’ll hear a great big bang and think ‘not again’.

“One man nearly got killed crossing the road earlier this year while walking his dog.  

"I’m surprised someone hasn’t been killed. Fortunately no young children live nearby."

The junction has been described as a "rat run" with lorries being one of the main "problems"

The couple described the crossroad as "a rat run" and cited HGVs as one of the main problems "coming this way to avoid the bypass, even though there’s a seven and a half tonne limit".

They added: “40mph will be a lot better – some people treat the 50mph like 70 or 80 at the moment.”

Philip Peck, a cyclist who also lives nearby, said: “There’s been a lot of accidents there over the years. I completely avoid it on Friday afternoons and do a detour through Doddington.

“There seems to be more aggressive driving now with people thinking ‘I was here first, it’s my turn.’

“As a cyclist, I wouldn’t go anywhere near it."

He is in favour of the speed reduction but suggested a roundabout as an alternative "to break up the straight road from the bypass to Eagle" if the restriction were not to work.

"At least people will have to slow down,” he added.

Describing "horrendous" scenes at rush hour, Molly Underwood said: “Cars come down really fast, it definitely needs to be lower. 40mph would be much, much better.

“At rush hour, you’ve got no chance of getting across the road.

“An elderly man in the village was hit as he crossed the roads a couple of years ago going to the post box.”

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