Response From LCC Dated 24th September 2010

From Divisional Highways Manager, Boston & South Holland Division

I refer to your open letter, dated 29 August 2010, which you have sent to John Hayes MP, Lincolnshire Free Press and Gedney Parish Council as well as to this Authority.

On the matter of the possibility of replacing the existing 40 mph speed restriction on West Drove South with a 20 mph limit, we have already advised you in our letter dated 17 June 2010 that the road does not meet the current qualifying criteria for such a change.

I can advise you that as part of national legislation the Authority is in the process of reviewing its speed limits on class A and B roads which will be completed by the end of 2011. Unclassified roads such as West Drove South will therefore not be reviewed until after this date.

Furthermore, should it be demonstrated that a change of speed limit is appropriate for West Drove South, it would not be a simple matter of taking down the 40 mph signs and replacing them with signs indicating a lower limit. By law, for any new or altered speed limit, the Authority has to process a Traffic Regulation Order for which we are obliged to undertake extensive consultation. Accordingly, I have to advise you that there will be no imminent change to the speed limit on West Drove South.

Your comparison of the situation at West Drove South with that at Wisbech Road, Kings Lynn is noted however, not only are the nature and characteristics of these two roads completely different, but also the highways of Kings Lynn are under the jurisdiction of an entirely separate Authority. There are 20 mph zones in this county but these are within urban centres and where supplementary engineering features have had to be provided to ensure tha low vehiclespeeds are maintained throughout the zone area. Such features would not be appropriate or practical on a rural road such as West Drove South.