Consultations begin over safety measures and lower speed limits on A149

The Duke of Edinburgh's car after it was involved in a collision on the A149 at Babingley, near King's Lynn, in January Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

They could also be accompanied by a reduced speed limit of 50mph through part of the Royal estate at Sandringham and safety measures at junctions including Lamsey Lane at Heacham.

Norfolk County Council will next week launch consultations into the junction changes.

The reduction from the national speed limit will be between the junction with the B1439 at Babingley and the B1440 at Dersingham.

Councillors approved a scheme in January - first proposed two years ago - which would see safety measures at a number of junctions on the A149 between King's Lynn and Heacham.

There have been 51 accidents including five fatalities over the last six years on that stretch of road.

A four-week statutory consultation on the junction improvements and speed limit reductions starts next week and is the first step in the legal process that has to be followed before any scheme can be put in place.

This first consultation is a chance for statutory consultees such as local councillors, parish councils, and blue light services to give feedback. Their responses will be taken into account before a further four-week public consultation takes place from early May.

Martin Wilby, chairman of the environment, development and transport committee, said: 'I'm very pleased that a holistic view has been taken and confident that the proposals will bring safety improvements to a much greater length of the road than the original camera scheme alone would have done.'

Stuart Dark, county councillor for Dersingham, said: 'The Lamsey Lane junction, which has seen a number of accidents over the years, wasn't included in the original safety camera scheme so I'm pleased that this is one of the sites set to benefit from much needed extra safety measures.'

Junction closures are suggested where Church Road and Double Lodges Road join the A149 and also the possible closure to vehicles of Station Road and Alma Road junctions at Snettisham. Responses to the public consultation will be taken into account in the design of schemes before any work begins in the winter 2019/20.

Safety on the road was thrown into the spotlight on January 17, when a Land Rover being driven by Prince Philip overturned when it was involved in a collision with a Kia Carens at Babingley.

The 97-year-old Duke was not injured, while two women in the other car suffered minor injuries.

There is no suggestion that speed played a part in the accident, while Prince Philip later voluntarily surrendered his driving licence.