THE MAIN Road into Utterby will remain a 50mph zone – despite a fierce campaign for the speed limit to be slashed.


The 'Slow Down for Lisa' fight has lost its battle to reduce the 50mph zone on the A16, Utterby to 30mph following a Lincolnshire County Council Highways traffic review.


The announcement, made by the council earlier this week, comes as a devastating blow to the friends and family of Lisa Burton, 14, who died following a collision with a car as she crossed the A16, Utterby in February. It is thought the driver was not speeding.


Since Lisa's death, more than 2500 people signed a petition to reduce the speed limit.


But the traffic reviews found the average speed of drivers was one mile per hour below the set speed limit – in both the 40mph and the 50mph zones.


Campaigner, Sue Hodgett of Fotherby says she is disappointed with the outcome.


In a letter to Phil Danby, Divisional Highways Manager, she said: "I am extremely saddened to see there will be no changes to the current speed limit, but understand you are working within certain restrictions".


She asked for other safety measures to be put in place such as a bus stop and warning signs at the end of the village where Lisa died and traffic lights or pedestrian crossings in the heart of the village where it is 40mph.


She said: "If the council intends to maintain the current potentially fatal 50mph speed limit, they should put in place provisions for other children and pedestrians, and adequate warning signs to motorists rather than continue the simple hope it doesn't happen again".


Graeme Butler, Special Projects Manager for Lincolnshire County Council said: "The speed limit has been assessed under our recently revised Speed Limit Policy and the limit would appear to be set at the correct level, as was indicated by initial readings.


"We are working on safety measures for this area and as part of this a plan for a proposed pedestrian refuge has been passed to the parish council; we will await their comments before progressing this any further".