The speed limit at the entrance to Little Downham is to be slashed in order to improve safety.

Little Downham Parish Council’s bid to cut the 40mph speed limit on an 800-metre stretch of the B1411, Ely Road, down to 30mph has been accepted by the county council and is in the final stages of consultation.

The parish council said the move would protect homeowners in the area and would make the entrance to the village much safer.

According to Cambridgeshire County Council statistics, the B1411, saw nine minor accidents, two serious accidents and one fatal accident between 2008-2012. There was also a fatal accident on the road in 2013 involving 23-year-old mother-of-one, Dawn Healy.

Cllr Marilyn Oldfield, chairman of Little Downham Parish Council, said: “There have been accidents on Ely Road and around some of the local roads in recent years so anything that can slow the traffic down is welcome.

“There is much more housing in that area of Ely Road now so we wanted to improve the entrance to the village and make it safer.”

Objectors to the proposal have until July 10 to make their case to the county council.

Back in December, Cambridgeshire County Council said it would not be taking any major action to address safety concerns about the B1411, which links Ely with Little Downham, despite holding meetings with worried residents of the village.

Amanda Mays, from the county council, attended a public meeting where particular concern was expressed over the bends in the road and a perceived adverse camber, which residents suggested was contributing to accidents on the road.

At the end of the meeting, Ms Mays promised to see what was “achievable” within the council’s budget but, in a later report to the parish council last month, said the road was not an accident cluster site and no further action, above some extra road markings, would be taken.