A SAFETY improvement scheme on a killer stretch of the A38 road near Wellington was completed on Friday (December 8).

But there were immediate concerns that a reduced new speed limit of 50 mph was being ignored by many motorists.

Nine people were killed across a 20-year period on the A38 between White Ball past the Beambridge Inn, Sampford Arundel, and through Perry Elm onto Wellington Relief Road, and many others injured in dozens of serious accidents.

Sampford Arundel Parish Council chairman Cllr Janet Lloyd wants police enforcement of a new A38 speed limit.
Sampford Arundel Parish Council chairman Cllr Janet Lloyd wants police enforcement of a new A38 speed limit. (Tindle News)

Beambridge owners Craig and Karen Holmes collected more than 1,300 signatures on a petition calling for safety measures and now Somerset Council has completed the first of three phases of improvements with a lower speed limit, enhanced signage, new coloured carriageway surfaces, and changes to the Holywell Lake and Sampford Arundel stagged junction.

But Sampford Arundel Parish Council chairman Cllr Janet Lloyd told the Wellington Weekly a lack of enforcement meant motorists were flouting the 50 mph limit, with a significant number driving faster than 60 mph.

Cllr Lloyd said: “Although we in the parish welcome these long-awaited improvements, driving safely on this stretch of road will only be assured if the new speed limit is enforced.

“I understand that phase three of the improvements is to install average speed cameras on this stretch of road but as yet we have no proposed installation date for these cameras.

New signs at the start of a 50 mph zone on the A38 at the top of White Ball Hill.
New signs at the start of a 50 mph zone on the A38 at the top of White Ball Hill. (Tindle News)

"The 50 mph limit was officially brought into being with the unveiling of the new signage on the main road and further signage at the five side roads that feed into the A38.

“But the speed indicator devices (SIDs) which alert drivers to their speed and issue warnings if the limit is being exceeded have been working for just over a week.

“So, I went to observe the one near the Perry Elm roundabout recording the traffic passing by and during an eight-minute period the speeds of cars included 52 mph, 54 mph, 67 mph, 59 mph, 58 mph, and 57 mph, with one of those cars displaying L plates.

A speed indicator device on the A38 near Perry Elm warns a car approaching off-camera to slow down.
A speed indicator device on the A38 near Perry Elm warns a car approaching off-camera to slow down. (Tindle News)

“The improvements will only be effective if the speed of traffic is enforced, otherwise we will be in the same position we were before, when drivers did not adhere to the previous 60 mph limit.

“So, I will be contacting Somerset Council’s highways department to try to establish the proposed date of the installation of the average speed cameras."

The unitary council has proposed two permanent cameras but is still discussing with ASvon and Somerset Police where they will be positioned.