THE brakes will soon be put on speeding drivers using a busy Quarry Bank dual carriageway when the speed limit is cut from 40 to 30mph.

Dudley Council will spend around £10,000 reducing the limit on Thorns Road following calls from residents to make the road safer.

Parents who have to cross the road to take their children to nearby schools have been concerned about motorists disregarding the rules of the road by flouting the speed limit, running red lights and performing u-turns.

The reduction, which will come into force in four to six weeks, will cover a 1.5 mile stretch, including parts of Pedmore Road, Lye and Merry Hill.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for transportation, said the new speed limit was part of the council's safer routes to school scheme and added: “We received a number of requests from residents for reduced speed along Thorns Road to make the area safer.

“The safety of children and parents travelling to and from school is very important to us and as a result we are planning to restrict the speed of traffic along the road from 40 to 30mph and add improved school warning signs."

He continued: “The scheme has the full support of the local community, following concerns about speeding outside Thorns Primary School. We have listened to what people have asked us to do and hopefully this work will lead to safer travel in the area for everyone.

"There have been no objections, it is something that has been welcomed and something that is required."

Cllr Ahmed said the £10,000 to implement the scheme, which covers the cost of the consultation, traffic regulation orders, road signage and markings, was "money well spent" as the safety of children was paramount.

Quarry Bank mum Jo Messinger, who urged the council to make the road safer after experiencing near-misses while crossing the road at the junction of Quarry Bank High Street with her sons, eight-year-old Adam and Zach, aged six, welcomed the news.

She said: "I'm really pleased that they are reducing the speed limit, it's a very busy road. But it will be up to motorists to comply with the law and reduce their speed. Hopefully they won't put their foot down quite so much."