Plans to reduce Knapton Road speed limit near Swafield

Alfie Brown, from North Walsham, died when he was knocked off his bike by a Ford Ranger truck on Knapton Road, near the village of Swafield, on the evening of August 10 this year.

Alfie Brown, 13, from North Walsham, was killed in a hit-and-run on Knapton Road, near Swafield, on August 10 this year (Image: Courtesy of family)

Alfie, 13, who was due to start Year 9 at North Walsham High School, was on his way home when he was hit by the driver, who failed to stop.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was arrested later that night on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop. 

An inquest into Alfie's death is ongoing. 

READ MORE: Town falls silent for the funeral of 13-year-old hit-and-run victim Alfie Brown

Alfie's Brown's funeral, in North Walsham, on September 4 (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Now, North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker, and the chairmen of both Swafield and Knapton parish councils, are calling for the road to be made safer.

“Rural speeding in north Norfolk is a huge issue," Mr Baker said.

"Through my six-week-long summer tour of the constituency, the issue came up time and time again. It was firmly at the top of people's list of concerns.

“The road is notoriously dangerous. I have walked along it and would wholeheartedly agree that the speed limit needs to be reduced.

“We also need to discuss the wider enforcement issues of reducing speeding, or we won’t change the public behaviour of what is a significant problem at the moment.”

North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker (Image: Stuart Anderson)

A public meeting is being held by Mr Baker at North Walsham High School, in Spenser Avenue, on Friday, September 29, from 7pm to 9pm.

Norfolk Constabulary's police and crime commissioner and chief constable will be in attendance, as well as the director for Highways at Norfolk County Council and the cabinet member Graham Plant will all be present.

Boris Konoshenko, chairman of Swafield and Bradfield Parish Council, said there have been three separate incidents on Knapton Road since the start of this year.

Boris Konoshenko, Swafield and Bradifield Parish Council chairman (Image: Adam Barker)

“It’s very narrow and bendy, and, unfortunately, some drivers treat it like a racing track," he said.

“There is no limit on this road, which suddenly changes to 30mph when entering the village.

“We need to reduce the speed limit on this road to at least 40mph.

“The approach here is that we must rely on people’s wisdom, but this road is difficult to predict. I don’t think it’s wise to rely on just people’s wisdom.”

READ MORE: Teen cyclist killed in hit-and-run leaves Norfolk village in shock

Knapton Road, near the village of Swafield, where Alfie Brown, 13, was killed in a hit-and-run on August 10 this year (Image: Adam Barker)

Peter Neatherway, who represents both Swafield and Knapton at North Norfolk District Council, and chairman of Knapton Parish Council, said the passing of Alfie Brown "angered" villagers, who have been "campaigning for years" to make the area's roads safer. 

"In the last year or so in Knapton, just a mile from Swafield, a vehicle completely missed the bend at the main junction and ploughed through a hedge onto a green where children often play on," he said.

Peter Neatherway, who represents both Swafield and Knapton at North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), and chairman of Knapton Parish Council (Image: Sonya Duncan)

"A few months later, a vehicle missed the same bend coming from the opposite direction and knocked all the reflective warning signs over like bowling pins.  

"In Swafield, the bridge over the Dilham Canal regularly suffers damage, which, in turn, causes havoc on the local roads and incurs huge expense to repair.

"These are not isolated incidents as I hear similar accounts from across my Trunch ward.

"The time has now come to mitigate the risk of road accidents involving vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; to re-access the suitability of our roads to cope with the demands now being made upon them; to consider their lane widths and address the question of 'creeping verges'; to review their speed limits; and to improve the policing of those limits, so that we can keep our local residents safe."

Peter Neatherway, who represents both Swafield and Knapton at North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), and chairman of Knapton Parish Council (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Grahame Bygrave, executive director of community and environmental services at Norfolk County Council said: “Our thoughts are with Alfie’s family and friends at what must be an exceptionally difficult time for everyone involved.

"I would also like to pay tribute to the members of the community who stepped in to help.

"We fully understand the concerns raised regarding road safety in Swafield and we will await the outcome of the coroner’s inquest, taking into account any recommendations they may make.”