THE speed limit on Whitefield Road in Dunfermline will be lowered from 40mph to 30mph after concerns about road safety.

It's one of three routes in the city where local residents flagged up their fears about vehicles going too fast.

A motion was passed at the City of Dunfermline area committee last November, with councillors calling for 30mph limits on Whitefield Road, Lapwing Drive and Carnegie Avenue, and that's now been done.

Dunfermline Press: Whitefield Road's speed limit will be reduced. Whitefield Road's speed limit will be reduced. (Image: Google Maps)

However the new speed limit won't cover all of Whitefield Road with Lesley Craig, from the council's traffic management team, explaining why they're taking a "modest approach".

New homes are to be built to the east of Whitefield Road, as part of Taylor Wimpey's plans to build 1,400 homes and a primary school between Kingseat and Halbeath.

The new speed limit will be in force from the mini-roundabout that connects with Robertson Road down to the existing 30mph 'gateway' near to the junction with Halbeath Road - which Cllr Gordon Pryde described as "somewhat disappointing".

Bellyeoman Community Council told the Press in January that there have been moves to lower the speed limit on Whitefield Road for more than 20 years.

The long-standing concerns about road safety centre on the difficulties pedestrians have experienced trying to get to and from Queen Margaret Hospital and the Queen Margaret Fauld estate.

Ms Craig said: "The developers are looking at signalisation at the junction with Robertson Road so putting it down to 30mph at this point allows them to proceed with those plans.

"The top end of Whitefield Road, from that point, will be removed as an actual carriageway. It will still be available for cyclists and pedestrians but not for vehicles."

She added: "Speed limits for Kingseat Road will be looked at as these developments come on line."