A two-year campaign to make a March road safer looks set to be a success with the news that a speed limit is about to be reduced.

Cambs Times: Proposed speed limit Wimblington Road, March.Proposed speed limit Wimblington Road, March. (Image: Archant)

A stretch of road from Neale Wade Academy towards the Mill Hill roundabout is likely to be reduced to 30mph instead of 40mph if a recommendation is given the go ahead.

Officers at Cambridgeshire County Council highways department are asking for the B1101 speed scheme to get the green light after two public meetings and a campaign of two years showed overwhelming support for the idea.

The news has been welcomed by councillor Jan French and Cambs Times editor John Elworthy who pushed for the speed reduction in the wake of two men - Dominic Iliffe, 24, and James Kiely, 27 - who were knocked down and killed by a speeding motorist on Wimblington Road as they walked home following a night in town in 2011.

Cllr French said: “What is 40 at the moment will go down to 30mph. I’m over the moon that the campaign has been successful.”

Editor Mr Elworthy said: “For the last 10 years this newspaper has campaigned across the Fens for improved safety whether it’s at the Forty Foot or Sixteen Foot or the campaign at Goosetree which saw traffic lights at a dangerous junction.

“When approached about the Wimblington Road we instantly agreed to chair the meeting where there was widespread public support for a speed reduction.

“Many residents turned up with photographic evidence to prove there had been problems on the road, or had seen accidents or suffered damage to their property. It proved there is a need for this speed reduction and I’m delighted it is being brought in.”

Police thought the speed limit was “onerous, over restrictive and not in keeping with the current highway environment.”

The new speed looks likely to get the go head in a meeting of the Cambridgeshire County Council Highways and Community Infrastructure committee on Tuesday April 28.