Boston: Rethink on A17 speed reduction plan

Councillor Mary Austin said reducing the speed limit to 40mph for too long a stretch of the A17 could result in "unforeseen consequences the moment vehicles are out"

Proposals to slow down part of a Lincolnshire road which has seen 15 accidents in five years have been scaled back after a rethink.

A 1,400m (4,500ft) stretch of the A17 between Heckington and Boston was to be reduced from 50mph (80km/h) to 40mph (64km/h) under the original plan.

However, councillors were concerned the length of road affected could lead to dangerous overtaking.

Revised plans about half the length are set to be discussed by councillors.

Councillor Mrs Mary Austin said the A17 was a major road with "a large amount of heavy traffic" according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She said she was worried once traffic left the 40mph limited stretch, "all hell" would break loose with "everyone jockeying to get past each other".

The proposed speed reduction around East Heckington, with the new 40mph zone in green and the remaining 50mph stretch in blue

Speed surveys found that traffic averaged between 42mph (67km/hr) and 46mph (74km/h) in the stretch.

A woman was killed on the road in 2018 when a car swerved into the opposite lane, and two further incidents were listed as serious collisions.

Councillor Paula Ashleigh-Morris said: "I was surprised to find there were only 15 accidents resulting in injuries on this stretch in the last five years."

"We have very few good roads into Boston - this one cracks along," she added.

The altered plans are due to be discussed at a Lincolnshire County Council meeting on 16 January.