Average speed cameras installed on busy West Norfolk road and more may follow

A scheme to install average speed cameras on one of West Norfolk’s busiest roads is likely to be extended to other borough routes, officials say.

Seven cameras have been positioned along the stretch of the A17 between Lynn and Sutton Bridge, though they are not yet operational.

The move has been welcomed by community leaders, although there are still calls for more to be done to reduce speed limits in collision blackspots.

The move follows a series of serious and fatal collisions on the A17 in recent years.

In the latest case, 21-year-old Laura Pesterfield was killed in a collision at the junction with Station Road, Terrington St Clement in December.

A camera has been placed on each side of that junction, with two more installed close to the junction with Station Road, Clenchwarton.

A fifth camera is in place near the Pullover roundabout, with the other two sited at the western end of the route, near to turnings for Walpole Cross Keys and Walpole St Andrew.

Anne Pointin, safety camera team manager for Norfolk police, said the route had been identified as a top priority because of its crash history.

She said: “It was felt the best intervention would be average speed cameras.”

A similar system is already in place in Potter Heigham, on the Norfolk Broads.

And Miss Pointin confirmed other locations in West Norfolk will be considered for similar measures.

She said: “The west of Norfolk is on the list of priorities.”

North West Norfolk MP Sir Henry Bellingham has welcomed the measure, describing it as “good news.”

But he said he would still like to see the speed limit lowered to 40 miles per hour around junctions along the route.

And he believes similar cameras should also be installed on other routes where serious collisions have happened in recent times.

He added: “I’ve been pushing for that for some time actually.”

However, although average speed camera systems are becoming a more attractive option because of reducing costs, they are only able to monitor one speed limit along the stretch of road covered.

Miss Pointin said: “If the county highway authority feels the limite needed to be altered, they would do that and we would adjust the cameras accordingly.”

One area where cameras could be installed is on the A47 around Middleton, East Winch and West Bilney.

Parish councillors in East Winch have been calling for the current 50 mile per hour speed limit there to be reduced to 40 for several years, in a bid to make the road safer.

Clerk Bob Pannell said the current arrangements meant villagers were reluctant to cross the A47 to catch buses to either Lynn or Norwich.

Of the cameras, he said: “It would certainly have an effect.

“It wouldn’t be what the parish council would like, but certainly it would make a difference if the traffic was controlled.”