Hundreds sign petition to cut bridge speed limit

New Bridge takes the A171 across the River Esk in Whitby

More than 500 people have signed a petition calling for a lower speed limit on a bridge in Whitby.

Residents said they want the speed limit on New Bridge to be lowered from 40mph (64 km/h) to 30mph (48 km/h), due to concerns over the safety of students and families who walk across it to reach Whitby School.

​The issue was raised in Parliament earlier this year by the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, ​Alison Hume.

North Yorkshire Council said it would review the bridge speed limit as part of a county-wide road assessment, once traffic lights at the nearby Spital Bridge junction were working.

​North Yorkshire Council's highways and transportation officer said: "The signals are expected to be functioning by early December, which means the speed survey could take place in the New Year.

"The subsequent speed limit assessment is likely to follow shortly thereafter."

The petition was started by Elizabeth Mulheran, a member of Whitby Town Council for the West Cliff division, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Speaking in June, Ms Hume told Parliament: "There is a busy bridge on the A171 in my constituency, which is used by pupils in Years 7 and 8 based at the Airy Hill site of Whitby School, as well as the parents and pupils who attend Airy Hill primary school and tourists photographing the steam trains that can be seen below.

"It is a very noisy and windy bridge with heavy road and foot traffic, and it is high above the estuary. Despite that there are no zebra crossings or raised kerbs."

She added: "Understandably, local residents are really worried.

"They have tried to lower the speed limit, but North Yorkshire Council is not interested, so they have raised a petition themselves."

The petition is due to be debated at a meeting of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee on Friday.

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