A NEW speed limit comes into force next month by the scene in Little Hereford of an accident in which a motorcyclist was killed.

The 60mph limit on part of the A456 will drop to 50mph after years of lobbying by Brimfield and Little Hereford Parish Council and country councillor John Stone,

Coun Stone, who represents Upton ward on Herefordshire County Council, said: "It's been a long wait. Originally we sought a 30mph limit but this was turned down because the road didn't fulfil the necessary criteria. We decided to go for 50mph instead to establish a principle."

The A456 passes through several counties as it runs east from Woofferton in Shropshire towards Kidderminster. The new restrictions will begin at the boundary with Herefordshire, a few yards north of Brimfield Cross, and continue until just beyond Easton Court. They cover most of the Herefordshire stretch of a road that is full of deceptive bends.

It is also a popular road with weekend motorcyclists. Dean Scott Peplow from Bewdley died on June 12 after his motorcycle was in collision with a Volvo car on a bend close to Little Hereford Parish Hall.

Before the accident, the A456 was the road that had shown the highest drop in collisions anywhere in the West Mercia Constabulary area. They fell to 22 in the first five months of 2005, from 37 during the same period last year.

Sgt Tony Jones from Herefordshire's Road Policing Team said: "Clearly, we welcome the reduction in speed limit on the A456, which is a rural road with a number of notoriously dangerous bends. We hope the new speed limit achieves the desired effect of making the road safer for the local community but also encourages users to be more aware of their speed and to drive appropriately and safely."

Andrew Lee-Jones, a highways and transport engineer at Herefordshire County Council, confirmed that all the necessary approvals had been obtained and the new restrictions will start on July 25.

Plans are at an early stage for 30mph limits on two lanes heading north from near the Teme bridge on the A456. One is a cul-de-sac close to the accident site. The other is a cross-country route to Ludlow avoiding the A49.