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Residents welcome new limit at notorious road

Andrew Turner/BBC Dawn White standing in her garden next to the Acle Straight, wearing a coat that has a faux fur lining. She has long reddish-brown hair, is smiling and wears glasses. Two cars, one blue and one white, are passing on the road behind her, in opposite directionsAndrew Turner/BBC
Dawn White said she always knew average speed cameras were needed along the A47 Acle Straight

People who live near a crash-prone trunk road in Norfolk have welcomed the prospect of average speed cameras being installed in the new year.

National Highways said it would reduce the speed limit of the A47 Acle Straight near Great Yarmouth from 60mph (96km/h) to 50mph (80km/h) to improve safety.

The road is a straight carriageway running for eight miles between Acle and Great Yarmouth, with one sweeping curve at the midpoint.

Dawn White, who runs a seasonal cafe and donkey sanctuary from her home on the A47, said she knew speed cameras were needed the moment she moved in eight years ago.

According to crashmap.co.uk, which says it maps collision data using information from the government and police forces, there have been 17 collisions classed as either serious or fatal along the road since May 2019.

"There's an awful lot of traffic and often it's really fast," said Ms White.

"There have been quite a few near misses; not myself, but customers."

She added: "[Sometimes] they must be doing 90 or 100mph. They bomb down here, like lightning, especially the motorbikes."

Andrew Turner/BBC Adam Blake, with mousy brown hair and goatee beard, is smiling by the roadside through Acle. He is wearing a blue jacket.Andrew Turner/BBC
Adam Blake says he doesn't think the cameras will have a dramatic impact as he believes speed is not the only factor behind the crashes

Adam Blake, who lives in Lingwood, regularly uses the A47 towards Great Yarmouth.

He said: "I doubt it will have an impact, to be honest. I don't see an awful lot of speeding on the road there.

"I see some suspect overtaking from time-to-time, but generally I don't think speeding is the issue; it's recklessness."

Andrew Turner/BBC Julie Smith has auburn hair, is wearing a blue hoodie and a black puffa style jacket. She is standing next to a filthy white van parked on Acle High Street.Andrew Turner/BBC
Julie Smith welcomed the installation of average speed cameras

Julie Smith, 57, from Cantley, believes a steady consistent speed would be the answer to the safety issues.

"I'm fine with it, but there's some silly driving. People overtaking and coming towards you," she said.

"When people overtake slow drivers it causes them to overtake fast, so I think a normal speed everyone had to adhere to would be safer."

Andrew Turner/BBC Ade Evans is bearded, and is wearing a blue jacket and light blue hoodie and a beige baseball cap. He is standing outside the Chinese take-away on Acle High Street.Andrew Turner/BBC
Ade Evans said the cameras and speed limit would have to be enforced to have any impact on driver behaviour

"I think it's a good idea," said Ade Evans, 55, who moved from London earlier in the year.

"There's so many crashes down there, especially in the nighttime. I've only been here six months and it's one a week and the number of fatalities, especially for bikers, so I think it will be a good thing."

As for the success of the cameras and reduced limit, he added: "It depends how it's governed by the local authority and the police. If it's enforced, it could work."

Jessica Murison, 31, lives on a new estate near to the A47.

"It would help a little bit," she said.

"Fingers crossed; it can only help slow people down. It's people driving too fast, driving silly and that's what's causing the accidents."

Andrew Turner/BBC Jessica Murison is wearing a brown jacket and grey mottled jersey, and an orange and blue hat, featuring a black logo badge. She is standing outside the Acle Pharmacy on the high street. She is wearing glasses and is smiling.Andrew Turner/BBC
Jessica Murison says the road should become safer with average speed cameras installed along the Acle Straight

Adrian Clothier, project manager for National Highways, said his team was reviewing people's responses to a recent consultation about the changes for the A47 Acle Straight.

The final proposals and "estimated delivery timescales" would be shared with the public once the that "process is complete", he said.

"This scheme aims to improve safety for all road users by reducing the number of people harmed on the region's roads," said Mr Clothier.

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