Debated speed limits back in play

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule

Hawke's Bay motorists can now scratch their need-for-speed itch after the Hastings District Council reverted the limits of several rural roads to 100km/h yesterday.

Last December, the council voted to reinstate 100km/h limits which were reduced to 80km/h earlier in 2014.

The 78km of roads were targeted by the council and deemed dangerous hot spots with regular serious crashes when the bid to improve safety came after a consultative process in late 2013.

However, many Bay drivers were outraged with the lower speed limit and forced the council to hold a second round of consultation and two days of hearings resulting in the return of the old 100km/h limit.

Of the 1513 responses which were considered, including formal submissions and website feedback, 67 per cent opposed the reduced limits which were first approved in November last year.

Clive contractor Earl Steevens, who runs a truck, trailer and bobcat business, submitted in opposition that slower speeds affected the performance of his business and was pleased that "common sense has prevailed".

"We've been driving on those roads for years ... what good did it do? Did it save lives and stop accidents, I don't think so.

"What I'm not pleased about is spending taxpayers' money for a stupid idea in the first place."

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule yesterday acknowledged the reduced limits had proven unpopular among residents.

"We did something, the public didn't like it, they didn't see the value in it, we heard another round of submissions and reversed the decision - that's the long and short of it, really."