PARKWAY residents concerned about road safety on the main route through their village, the A417, will have to wait a little longer to find out if Herefordshire Council will reduce the speed limit or install traffic calming measures.

But the possibility of changes and improvements to the road have not been ruled out by the highways authority.

Public worries about safety on the stretch came to a head following a recent collision between a 60-year-old pensioner and a car, but this may only be the tip of the iceberg so far as accidents at Parkway go.

Ledbury town councillor, Jane Hopkins, has gone on record to say that "every single villager has an accident or near miss story".

But she is not the only local politician with grave concerns.

County councillor, Emma Holton said: "I have been trying for the last year to get the speed limit reduced in Parkway for residents, particularly with the new developments going on its only going to get busier."

Ledbury is set to expand by up to 2,000 new homes, to the north and the south, and the A417 road through Parkway is a link to the M50 motorway, already used by many local commuters.

Cllr Holton said: "All residents want is a 30 limit through the village."

Some villagers, however, have told The Reporter that they do not wish to see the 40mph limit reduced through Parkway, they want to see it observed by motorists: perhaps with the help of electronic speed indicators.

Recommendations, however, are imminent from Herefordshire Council.

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said: "A draft recommendation has been communicated to Ledbury Town Council, the local member of Herefordshire Council and West Mercia Police.

"We expect to receive comments back by mid-September. These will be considered before a formal recommendation on any changes to limits is submitted to Herefordshire Council."

The final decision lies with Herefordshire Council itself, because it is the highways authority.