Anger at plans to change speed limit at Newport housing development

People living close to Haversham Gardens, off Edgmond Road, said that when the development was approved it was put forward with a new speed limit of 30mph around the site.

But developers Bovis Homes have submitted a new application to vary that limit to 40mph.

Currently, the road is national speed limit and Bovis Homes say the new application is being made in a bit to improve the area around the site.

Peter and Felicity Barlow live on Edgmond Road and said that conditions on the original application required an extension of an existing 30mph zone past the new development.

They said: "We are concerned that residents of the new houses in Haversham Gardens, and others viewing this application, will think that they are getting an improvement to their safety by having a new 40mph speed limit while not realising that when planning permission was granted for a condition required an extension of the existing 30mph zone.

"Which speed limit do you think would be safer bearing in mind that there will also be two new bus stops, as well as all of the traffic associated with the 85-house development and the new houses being built on the other side of the road?"

The couple have encouraged others living around the site to voice their concerns about the change.

A spokesman for Bovis Homes said: "We are implementing the changes that are required and approved by the highways authority, and the extension of the reduced speed zone – previously an unrestricted speed area – is part of our plans to create an attractive, safe gateway into Haversham Gardens, which is proving to be a busy and popular location for local home buyers.

"These improvements are part of our overall investment into enhancing local facilities and infrastructure, which also includes contributing more the £270,000 to local authorities to invest in areas like education and transport, and creating public open spaces and a children's play area for the use of the whole community. "