A road which has been “a godsend to many towns and villages” in Bedfordshire for more than 30 years has become “inadequate and unsafe”, according to a local councillor.
The A507 has taken “heavy through traffic away from town centres”, including Ampthill, Maulden and Clophill, a Central Bedfordshire Council traffic management meeting was told.
“But there’ve been huge traffic increases since then linked to housing and population growth,” said Conservative Ampthill Councillor Mike Blair.
“This has rendered the road inadequate and unsafe over several sections of its length.
“I look forward to the day when we can put weight limits for through traffic on the whole length of the A507.”
The speed limit on a section of A507 between Clophill and Chicksands is to be reduced from 60mph to 50mph, following a motion presented to a CBC full council meeting.
“I brought this forward simply because urgent action is required,” explained Conservative Ampthill Councillor Paul Duckett.
“There’s a suite of measures required to improve road safety, not just cameras, speed humps or rumble strips.
“I would really like to see those delivered to prevent the regular occurrence of really quite often life changing and life shattering accidents and incidents.”
Principal highways officer Lisa Wright said: “Concerns have been raised by a number of stakeholders regarding the safety and speed of vehicles on this road.
CBC has been unable to undertake new speed surveys because of the reduction in traffic resulting from the pandemic.
The most recent data available to Bedfordshire Police shows the average speed is 50mph towards Shefford and 54mph towards Clophill.
“Setting a lower limit than 50mph could encourage inappropriate overtaking manoeuvres,” she warned.
Councillor Blair called for a statutory 40mph limit rather than 50mph, saying: “Merely sanctioning those speeds won’t alter the conditions that led to the horrendous accidents.”
Resident Paul Downing, who was representing the Ampthill community safety group, said: “We feel 50mph is too fast for the bends.
“So reduce the limit to 40mph, slow the traffic right down and then you’ll have a more even flow.”
Steve Rodell, who chairs Clophill Parish Council, referred to numerous near misses on the stretch of road, saying: “The proposal simply doesn’t go far enough.
“The issues raised by people who responded are dismissed for not being regarded as within the scope of the review.
“The majority want a 40mph or proper enforcement of the 50mph through average speed cameras.”
Independent Ampthill Councillor Mark Smith suggested a 40mph limit should extend from A6 roundabout to Beadlow.
CBC chief highways officer Paul Salmon indicated the need “to change the perception” of this route.
“We’d have to consider the ‘No right turn’ out of Warren Lane.
“Anything we add in now would need statutory consultation and can’t be done as part of this.”
Conservative Arlesey councillor Ian Dalgarno said: “I respect the data shows fewer accidents than there are because it doesn’t include the non-injury damage only incidents.
“Today is a starting point to a certain extent, although we need to manage expectations over what can be achieved in the short-term.
“The A507 has issues with speeding motorbikes treating it as a race track.
“It’s inherently dangerous, so I want officers to review that aspect and the issue of banning right turns on to the A507,” added Councillor Dalgarno, who chairs the meeting.
“This needs to compete with other funding, but I support the motion and will move forward with it.”
