AN ACCIDENT blackspot could see a lower speed limit imposed in a bid to make it safer.

A proposal is set to be discussed this week to change the speed limit from 60mph to 40mph on the A353 White Horse Hill between Preston and Osmington, near Weymouth.

A report by service director Highways Andrew Martin states that while there is no certainty that the road will be safer if the speed limit is cut, ‘it would be reasonable to suggest’ that it will be.

The report goes on to say: “Within the stretch of road in question there are farms and businesses which the county council feel would benefit from a reduced speed limit.”

Local councillors, Osmington Parish Council and Dorset Police have all expressed support for lowering the speed limit.

But not everyone agrees. In a consultation with stakeholders, West Dorset District Council said there was ‘no logic’ to the proposal and that the money would be better used to produce a footpath away from the traffic.

Changing the speed limit would cost £2,750, including advertising charges.

And a member of the public contacted the county council to object to the plans, saying they are ‘totally unwarranted and unnecessary’ because traffic is ‘self-regulating’. The objector added: “The support expressed by the elected member and the parish council cannot, due to the total lack of evidence available, be based on anything other than their own personal feelings and opinion rather than evidenced facts.”

A speed survey carried out by the county council revealed that the mean average speed of cars on the road is 40mph.

The report, which will go before the county council’s regulatory committee at County Hall in Dorchester tomorrow, states: “In the summer holiday season both Eweleaze and White Horse farms operate successful and very busy camp sites and during this period there is an increase in the traffic accessing these sites. There have been a number of injury collisions on this route where excessive speed has been the contributory factor.”

There have been a number of crashes on the road in recent years. In January 2013, a 75-year-old pensioner died after his car left the road and ended up in a hedgerow.

In 2011 a woman and a six-year-old boy, believed to be holidaymakers, were injured in a two-vehicle collision.

And in 2009 a motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a crash with a van.

Writing in the report, Mr Martin concludes that a 40mph speed limit would ‘reinforce the typical speeds’ and that the collision history on the road is evidence for justifying a 40mph limit.

Dorset County Council’s cabinet will make the final decision on the proposal.

Mr Martin advised the regulatory committee to recommend that Cabinet approves the new speed limit.

Slower traffic on the C12?

THE regulatory committee is also being recommended to approve a reduced speed limit for part of the C12 (Old Sherborne Road) north of Dorchester.

The affected part just under a mile long between Lower Burton and Charminster currently has a speed limit of 50mph and it is proposed to reduce this to 40mph due to the number of crashes along this stretch.

A report says there are multiple entrances and side roads accessing this stretch of road and traffic has increased in recent years due to the development at Charlton Down.

There were 16 letters in support of the reduced limit and one objection, which claimed the work would be "unnecessary and a misuse of the county council's resources".

However supporters say a reduced limit would improve safety.

A report to councillors recommends the new speed limit is approved as there is evidenced to suggest it will be safer, and farms and businesses along the route would benefit.