Speed limit reduced at scene of Prince Philip’s car crash

A STRETCH of road where the late Duke of Edinburgh crashed his Land Rover has had its speed limit lowered to 50mph despite more than 100 objections from neighbours.

The Duke, who died aged 99 in April this year, escaped serious injury when his vehicle overturned in January 2019 near the Sandringham estate.

Norfolk county council has now approved long-standing plans to reduce the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph along two miles of the A149. Babingley residents lodged 42 formal objections against the scheme along with a petition bearing 102 signatures.

One resident accused the council of wanting to make “things look good” after the Duke’s accident and lambasted the decision “as a waste of money”.

Other objections included concerns that the lower speed limit would increase pollution and lengthen journey times.

But councillors denied any links between the Duke’s crash and the proposals, saying they have “been under review for many years” and the stretch of road has suffered a high number of accidents.

The 50mph limit will be introduced in the autumn and will apply to a stretch of road between Babingley and the Dersingham roundabout.

Council documents revealed there have been eight accidents in which people were injured over the past five years on the road, with one classed as serious.

A second area of the A149 between Snettisham and Heacham is also getting a 50mph limit, after 10 injury accidents over five years, with two classed as serious and one fatality.