THE new 30 miles per hour speed limit on Whitefield Road in Dunfermline will "become operational" at the end of this month.

Local residents have been calling for measures to slow traffic down on the busy route for more than 20 years. 

The secretary of Bellyeoman Community Council, Graeme Whyte, previously told the Press: "I found a letter the other day that I'd written to the then councillor, Helen Law, requesting the speed limit be reduced to 30mph, and it was from 2001!"

There have long been safety concerns for pedestrians trying to cross the road to get to and from Queen Margaret Hospital, the houses in Queen Margaret Fauld and the railway station.

The City of Dunfermline area committee set aside an objection at their meeting in October and approved the change, with a new road traffic order stating that the speed limit will be lowered from 40mph to 30mph from Monday January 29. 

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The new limit will be in place from the mini-roundabout that connects with Robertson Road down to the existing 30mph 'gateway' near to the junction with Halbeath Road.

The council previously explained that there was no point extending it to the 'top end' of Whitefield Road as the “dangerous” junction with Kingseat Road is to disappear as part of Taylor Wimpey's major housing development.

A copy of the order can be viewed online at www.fife.gov.uk/notices