TEMPORARY speed limits on the A140 in Suffolk were today made permanent, but there is little chance of further safety improvements on the notorious road.

TEMPORARY speed limits on the A140 in Suffolk were today made permanent, but there is little chance of further safety improvements on the notorious road.

Suffolk County Council's cabinet approved making the 50mph speed limit permanent between Coddenham and Scole after hearing that the number of accidents had been substantially reduced since the limit was introduced on a temporary basis at the beginning of 2004.

However despite the statistics most people who took part in a consultation exercise wanted to see the speed limits removed allowing cars to travel at up to 60mph on sections of the road.

Norfolk County Council refused to introduce a similar restriction on its section of the road.

Suffolk highways spokesman Guy McGregor said today that the safety argument had won the day - but warned there was no money for any other major road improvements.

He said: “There are no proposals for traffic lights at the A1120 junction and while we are looking at some small-scale safety works, we have to accept there will not be the government money for major projects.

“Norfolk wants to build a by-pass for Long Stratton, but that is even further down the government's priorities than improvements to the A12.

“I don't see any chance of introducing major improvements on that road.”

These comments will be heard with dismay in the Stonhams which have been campaigning for years for a by-pass for their villages.

Long Stratton is well ahead of them in the race for a by-pass and it now seems as if even that is many years away.