Roads across Fenland are to become less congested after a campaign to increase lorry speed was successful.

The government has agreed to raise the speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageways from 40mph to 50mph.

North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay has repeatedly called for a change in speed limits, including meeting with ministers and raising Parliamentary Questions.

He said: “This is a very welcome decision from the government, as the previous speed limit for HGVs had been in place since the 1960s.

“Residents often find themselves stuck behind lorries, given the high number of haulage firms in the Fens. Yet, as almost all the roads are single carriageway it can be dangerous to try and overtake.

“The existing 40mph speed limit can therefore cause accidents, as drivers get frustrated travelling at 40mph behind a lorry and try to overtake when it’s not suitable to do so,”

Extensive research has been carried out before the government made this decision, he said, and there has been a lot of new technology introduced over the last 50 years, so it makes good sense to bring the speed limit for these lorries in line with other large vehicles like coaches and caravans.

Hauliers across England and Wales are delighted at the proposal, which could see an £11 million a year boost for them because of savings in time and fuel costs the rise in speed limit is likely to generate.