A Weymouth road could see a lower speed limit imposed in a bid to make it safer.

A proposal is set to be discussed by Dorset County Council's cabinet members next month to change the speed limit from 50mph to 40mph on the Preston Beach Road.

The proposal comes from concerned councillors, James Farquharson, Ian Bruce and Tony Ferrari.

Cllr Farquharson said: “We have been in consultation with DCC and residents about this for a long time.

“I think it will be a really positive change, we have had two fatal accidents on that road in the last couple of years and we don’t want to see any more.

“The main problem is the road goes from a 30mph zone, to a 50mph and back to a 30 within about 500 metres, and many people pick up speed way before it changes to 50mph.

“There are also several crossings in that area and a children’s skate park, it doesn’t make sense.”

Cllr Ian Bruce added: “It has been a long-term plan to reduce the speed limit on Preston Beach Road but it never seemed to go anywhere.

“Now, we have had two people killed on the road we have gone to our new county councillor and said something has to be done really urgently.

“In the past it has always been a very safe road, but following the two deaths we really need to make sure we are doing everything we possibly can."

This proposal will be discussed by DCC's cabinet, which next meets on Wednesday, December 6.

Mike Potter, DCC's collision reduction team manager, said: “A proposed reduction of the speed limit on Preston Beach Road from 50mph to 40mph has been investigated and added to the list of Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) requests. New warning signs would also be installed in advance of the existing crossing points to raise drivers’ awareness. No work has yet been done to progress this formally.

“We have more than 120 outstanding TRO requests across Dorset. Each request that meets with criteria is scored and ranked accordingly, with those scoring highest processed first.

“In line with Department for Transport guidance we review speed limits regularly to ensure they reflect current guidance and policy.

“Having reviewed speed survey data for Preston Beach Road collected between August and September 2015 and between August and October 2017, we concluded that a reduction from 50mph to 40mph would be appropriate.

“The data shows that speeds are typically at or close to 40mph, which suggests that a 40mph limit would be ‘self-enforcing’ and reinforce the speed that most drivers deem appropriate.”