The speed limit through a Herefordshire village is to be cut.

The limit on the main A449 through Much Marcle near Ledbury will shortly drop from 50mph to 40mph, while elsewhere in the village the 30mph zone will be extended.

Following a site inspection by council officers in November 2022, the police and Much Marcle parish council and other official bodies were consulted a year ago, as were local residents last spring, with neither drawing any objections to the plan.

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As well as replacing the existing speed limit signs and “roundels” on the tarmac at the north and south ends of the current 50mph stretch, “high-profile village nameplate” signs will be put up.

The move has come about due to representations made by local county councillor Barry Durkin and by a member of the public via local MP Sir Bill Wiggin, the record of the council’s decision explains.

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Coun Durkin said he had been prompted by particular concern over schoolchildren having to cross the A449 to get from their bus stop to the school, and expected the measure to come into force in April. 

“There was also an accident at the crossroads a few years ago when a car crashed into what was the village shop, and there is a general concern locally about speeding,” he said.

The council has also decided to extend the village’s 30mph zone to a stretch of the C1289 running 300 metres southward from the B4024, Much Marcle’s main artery, “due to a high concentration of properties fronting the road”.

The total cost of the work, from consultation, paperwork, advertising as well as the signs and road markings, comes to around £12,000.