PLANS for a 40mph limit on the main road through Poundbury in Dorchester have sparked safety concerns.

Members of Dorchester Town Council voted to object after hearing of the plans for Middle Farm Way when the road is adopted by Dorset County Council.

Nursery bosses and the Poundbury Residents Association have also insisted that a 30mph limit would be safer.

Joy Scadden, who runs Sunny Days with husband David, was concerned about the 40mph limit despite it stopping just short of their nursery.

She said: “I think 30mph would be reasonable.

“At the moment it is not built-up but it won’t take long for it to grow.

“Also, there are people with children in their cars, so people should be taking it easy anyway.”

She added: “There is a pedestrian crossing there which a lot of families use.

“Young people also use it as a cut-through for the Hardye school.”

The matter will go to Dorset County Council’s roads and rights of way committee to make a decision when the authority comes to officially adopt the route.

Maurice Allen, chairman of the Poundbury Residents Association, said: “There’s housing on both sides of the road. It’s essential that it’s not more than 30 miles per hour.”

Steve Howard, who is manager of the county council traffic management section, said at the meeting that the Duchy of Cornwall and the council aimed to designate it a 40mph road.

He said: “What we are trying to achieve is a route which will be more appealing for those people coming off the Monkey’s Jump roundabout rather than them going along Bridport Road.

“We also want to dissuade them from using Peverell Avenue, which will be the centre of Poundbury.”

He added that the design of the road had the feel of a 40mph limit and that Government guidelines were to set speed limits appropriately.

Coun Tim Harries said: “A 30mph limit is perfect for that piece of road. There’s also a bus stop. Thirty is quite fast enough.”

Coun Robin Potter added: “There is eventually going to be a fair amount of residential development along the side, much like Peverell Avenue.”

Ward councillor David Barrett backed 30mph after the meeting.

He said: “I think 40mph ultimately would be unsafe.

“We don’t want to encourage speed, we want to reduce it.”