Safety Review To Take Place After Fatal Collisions On A47

A safety review is to be carried out on the stretch of the A47 in the Harborough District after two fatal collisions this year.

Leicestershire County Council will conduct the investigation, following the deaths of two people in separate crashes near East Norton and Bushby in January.

Cllr Simon Galton, who represents the area, has asked for the review to include speed limits and overtaking restrictions and consideration of more speed cameras.

He told HFM the collisions, as well as other more minor ones in recent weeks, have left residents living in villages just off the A47 very concerned and action is needed to save lives:

The scene of a fatal collision on the A47 Pic: Simon Galton

The council say it will be conducting the safety review as collision figures have risen in the last year and will look at next steps once it is complete.

Cllr Galton has also expressed concern a county council scheme to install more average speed cameras across Leicestershire is to be halted:

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways, said: “The average speed camera scheme has been successful in reducing speed and has had a positive effect on driver behaviour.

“There were plans to roll the scheme out further, but this has unfortunately been prevented by a combination of Department for Transport and the Treasury unwilling to change the rules to allow us the funding to roll out the scheme across the county.

“We will continue to make the argument to Government that local councils know their communities better than Whitehall does, and we look forward to getting support in our fight to get the funding we need to make our roads safer.”