Calls for A120 speed limit in Harwich to be cut to 50mph

It comes after two crashes in a matter of days, including a smash on the Wix bypass last Friday at 12am, which left two people trapped in their vehicle.

The pair were freed by firefighters by 2.25am before being taken to Colchester Hospital.

One of the patients was described as having “life-threatening and life-changing injuries”.

Delays - The A120 road between Wix and Horsley's cross was closed for 9 hours from Friday midnight last week and for over an hour on Tuesday (Image: Submitted)

The busy road was closed for nine hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and the road was closed again on Tuesday at 6pm following another crash which saw a driver treated at the scene by paramedics.

'Horrendous'

Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson has called for the “really dangerous stretch” of the A120 to have a 50mph limit to avoid deaths.

Mr Henderson said the section between Horsley Cross and the Ramsay roundabout, which has a speed limit of 60mph, is “a dangerous black spot on the A120”.

With dual-carriage plans “several years away”, Mr Henderson said Highways England should cut the speed limit.

He added: “We know there should be money available to put safety measures in to avoid incidents.

“Putting the tragic and very sad incidents involving the loss of life to one side, the road closures have just been horrendous for all”.

Campaigning - Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson

Mr Henderson has raised the issue with the agency, which he said needed to collect “further research before giving a complete response”, but that a promised update before Christmas had not happened.

A spokesperson for National Highways said it received a follow-up letter from Mr Henderson last week and is "in the process of drafting a reply”.

Mr Henderson called for urgent action to improve safety measures on the A120 East following four fatal crashes in as many months in 2022.

It included the death of healthcare worker Nicola Frost, 40, who died following a collision involving her Suzuki Ignis and a Mercedes Sprinter van on the A120 at nearby Ramsey.

Antiquarian bookseller David Edmunds, 82, of Wrabness, died following a collision between his Volvo V40 and a van at the A120’s junction with Primrose Lane.

Missed - Nicola Frost and David Edmunds (Image: Family handout)

An 84-year-old woman also died following a crash on the A120 at Wix while quad biker Marley Kline, 18, died after a collision on the Colchester-bound A120 at Great Bromley.

At the time, a National Highways spokesperson said: “Safety is National Highway’s top priority and we remain committed to reviewing the safety on the A120 as we do on all our roads.

“There have been some serious accidents on the A120 in recent months and we recognise the concern that people have expressed. We’ll continue to keep the safety on the stretch of road under continual review and work with the community on any future safety improvements.”