Appealsfor a speed limit to be introduced on a "dangerous" stretch of road linking Ramsden Bellhouse and Ramsden Heath have been given a cool reception by Chelmsford Borough Council.

Ramsden Bellhouse parish councillors had hoped the council would support their calls for a 40mph speed limit on Church Road.

They also wanted work to be carried out to improve the road's verges to boost pedestrian safety.

The council has said, however, that any limit would be inappropriate and any work on improving pedestrian safety would have to wait.

Parish council clerk, Karen Plumridge, said: "Councillors were hoping that something could be done to help pedestrian safety between the two villages.

"It is quite a dangerous section of road with cars travelling at very high speeds and pedestrians do not even have a verge to walk on at certain points."

The speed limit request has, however, been refused by the council's engineering services department and failed to get the backing of Essex's Chief Constable, although the council has accepted there are grounds for safety concerns.

In a letter from the department the parish council was told: "Unfortunately the rural nature of this stretch of road does not meet the criteria for a 40mph speed limit and the Chief Constable does not support it."

The department has said it will look at including the route on its social footway schemes list, but Mrs Plumridge believes Ramsden Bellhouse may have a long wait until any work gets the go ahead.

She said: "There are a large number of footpath requests already on the list. Your place on the list depends on the severity of the problem so we will have to wait and see the borough council's response."

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