40mph limit one step closer to being implemented on Weymouth’s Preston Beach Road

On Thursday, county councillors at the regulatory committee unanimously voted in favour of recommendations to reduce the road’s speed limit from 50mph to 40mph between the entrance to Lodmoor Country Park and Overcome Corner.

During the meeting, county councillors heard from Grace Dursley, whose husband died on the road in 2015 following a collision with a speeding motorcyclist.

She said: “Exactly three years ago my world was turned upside-down when my beloved husband of 61 years was mown down by a speeding motor-cyclist and died at the scene from his injuries.

“The effect this has had on me and my family was profound. Every time I hear a motor-cycle my stomach turns over, I am paranoid about crossing roads, and my enthusiasm and zest for life were destroyed. Every time I travel to or from Weymouth, on foot, by car or by bus, I have to pass the place where my husband died, and I am often close to tears.”

She asked the committee to agree to reducing the speed limit.

The section of road has been a 50mph zone since 1990. Over the last three years there were four collisions recorded, resulting in nine casualties. Two were fatal and five were classed as serious. Police recorded excess speed as a contributory factor in two of the crashes.

David Penny, who wrote a formal objection to plans to reduce the speed limit, said he wasn’t sure why the proposal was being made now, despite the Department of Transport’s guidance being published five years prior to the plans. He added that the accidents referred to in the report put before councillors, were a result of ‘reckless’ driving and reducing the speed limit won’t deter people who drive recklessly, because they drive at speeds inappropriate on roads with any speed limit.

Cllr Jon Orrell said he sympathised with Mr Penny’s statement about the road experiencing different amounts of traffic. He said the road gets very busy in the summer and drivers can be unfamiliar with the road.

He added: “You probably could travel at 50pmh, but in the summer it gets very busy and a lot of people not familiar with the town or road.

“I can see why accidents happen.

“If the speed limit goes down to 40mph this shows that this isn’t a place to go fast, so I will be backing the proposal.”

Cllr Jon Andrews said: “As much as I sympathise with Mr Penny – that you can’t legislate for idiots. If we can avoid one collision along there we have done our job properly.”

Cllr Kevin Brookes said: “Looking at the accident statistics over the last few years. This is not long overdue, and I would like to thank Mrs Dursley for coming and speaking to us with what must have been a difficult situation.”

Cllr Bryan questioned why the 30mph speed limit isn’t continued from Greenhill.

However, council officer Jon Lake said it was decided this would be ‘too low’ and drivers would try to overtake other vehicles.

Chairman of the committee, David Jones, questioned whether the 40mph limit would be enough to deter drivers and suggested speed camera signs may be more effective. He said: “The simplest way to enforce it would be to put up a speed camera sign.

“Something else is needed. It’s a very simple recommendation to say yes let’s reduce the speed limit. “What I would say is reducing the speed limit isn’t sufficient and I hope officers will look at other engineering solutions to resolve this matter.”

Despite this, he supported the recommendations along with the other councillors.

The recommendations will now go before the county council cabinet for a final decision.