HEREFORDSHIRE'S coroner has raised several concerns over the A44 in north Herefordshire after a married couple were killed there while walking.

Now, Herefordshire Council is considering lowering the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph.

Paul Morris, 70, and his wife Alison, 57, died when they were hit by a motorbike as they crossed the A44 at Kington in September 2021. Their pet dog was also killed.

At inquests in May, Mark Bricknell, senior coroner for Herefordshire, recorded conclusions of road traffic collisions after the crash in Floodgates, west of Kington on the major road leading to Rhayader and Aberystwyth from Leominster, Worcester and Oxford.

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After hearing the evidence, however, he issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Herefordshire Council and its contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places.

In it, he expressed concern about visibility due to the amount of foliage, the position of safety barriers for pedestrians and motorists, the position or nature of the crossing, the speed of traffic and the level of signage.

At the spot where the Morrises were killed, a footpath crosses the A44 and is well-used, giving easy access to the Offa's Dyke long-distance trail.

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In his response, the council's chief executive Paul Walker says there is no history of collisions at the location but after the fatalities, the contractors have been asked to make more regular checks to improve the sight lines.

There are no plans to move the line of the footpath or prove a footbridge but Mr Walker said: "The council is soon to consult on the lowering of the speed limit to 50mph, the lowest speed limit which is considered appropriate for this class of road and its nature i.e. a road with minimal access points and good overall visibility."

The council is also reviewing signage as there are currently only warnings about pedestrians crossing on the eastbound approach.

"While this review will ultimately determine the details of the proposals it is likely to at least include pedestrian warning signs on each approach to the three existing locations where public rights of way cross the bypass," Mr Walker said.