The speed limit is being cut at an accident blackspot where two people have died in the past five years.

Plans to reduce the limit by 10mph between the Catamaran Yacht Club and Barton’s Point Coastal Park on Sheppey have been given the nod but could take months to implement.

The road, which connects Sheerness and Minster along the coast and is used by hundreds of drivers every day, is currently a 40mph zone.

It will be brought down to 30mph after Kent County Council (KCC) approved the proposals on Monday, December 9.

The scheme, expected to take six months to complete, aims to tackle speeding on the road where there have been two deaths.

In January, a 20-year-old pedestrian died after he was hit by a VW Golf near the entrance to Barton’s Point.

Five years earlier, a 77-year-old woman died after a head-on collision between an Age UK minibus and a car near the yacht club.

Last month, there were two crashes just outside Barton’s Point entrance. On November 1 two cars were involved in a collision, then on Sunday, November 17 a white Audi and a silver Peugeot crashed.

The accidents happened just as a public consultation, asking people if they wanted to see the speed limit lowered, was coming to an end on November 18.

Cllr Mike Whiting (Ind), who represents Sheppey on KCC, is behind the plans which were submitted in July. He has been campaigning for a reduction on the road since being elected last May.

Despite surveys showing the average speed of vehicles is around 35mph in each direction, the fatalities and crashes swayed KCC officers to approve the decision.

The number of bus stops, pedestrians and cyclists using the road were also factors.

Cllr Whiting said: “It will certainly help the main issue, which is at the hill just outside Barton’s Point, and it’s a move the public is behind.

“We want to encourage people to this area, with the Shingle Bank Beach, yacht club and the park. By reducing the speed we can make it more friendly for pedestrians.

“This is a first step and KCC will look at the most recent accident reports from the police and decide if there are further measures needed.

“If I get the feeling that the new limit is not being adhered to I will call on the police, which have the authority, to enforce it.”

It will cost around £6,000 to make all the changes, with £1,124 coming from Cllr Whiting’s KCC Member Grant funding.

Police will also be deploying a mobile speed camera van at a newly built lay-by by Barton’s Point which has cost the county council £18,000.

KCC officers are expected to inspect it this week to check if remedial works are needed.

Questions are, however, being raised about whether this action goes far enough.

Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab), chairman of Sheerness Town Council, said that while she welcomed the moves, she feels police may not have the resources to carry out speed checks.

Following the crashes last month, she set up a petition urging the county council to install speed cameras next to Barton’s Point. That petition now has more than 700 signatures.

She said: “We are pleased with the decision but a camera needs to be in place as we cannot expect a police officer to be there at all times monitoring the road.

“A speed camera will save Kent Police and KCC resources and will enforce the limit at all times of the day.

“But if data gathered by KCC shows the new limit is working we will not need a camera. However, if we see more crashes and fatalities then it will give evidence that we need further action.”

To view the petition click here.

The stretch of road is highlighted in the upcoming Sheerness Town Council Highway Improvement Plan which is based on recommendations from a six-week public consultation launched in March.

A new lay-by is also being built by Barton’s Point which KentOnline understands is so a mobile speed camera can be deployed.

The Times Guardian has approached KCC for further information.