Archived pictures of crashes along A47 Acle Straight

Now, a recently rediscovered collection of old photographs has revealed how the Acle Straight - one of Norfolk's most accident-prone roads - has long since been a black spot. These images from this newspaper's photographic archive, with some dating back to the early 1950s, show cars both extensively damaged from crashes and overturned in dykes. The find comes as highway bosses look to reduce the speed limit on the A47 between Great Yarmouth and Acle from 60mph to 50mph, saying it is needed to prevent crashes and deaths.[1]

Police close the Acle Straight after an accident involving a car in the ditch in 2014 (Image: Denise Bradley) An overturned car pictured in a dyke off the Acle Straight in the early 1960s (Image: Archant Library) But critics, while accepting a need to make the 6.8-mile road safer, say the ultimate solution is to dual the Straight[2]. The reduced speed limit is said to add just under a minute-and-a-half[3] to journeys along the road. An old Mini veers off the Acle Straight in the early 1960s (Image: Archant Library) elkes biscuits van in dyke off Acle Straight in August 1963 (Image: Archant Library) While the timeline for this scheme was initially unspecified, it is now understood that the new safety measures could be brought in as soon as January[4].

Reducing the speed limit is something not all residents along the road agree with,[5] as some say that drivers are the issue and others suggest speed cameras would be more effective. Acle Straight seen from the air taken by Mike Page (Image: Mike Page) A road traffic collision along the Acle Straight amid fog in November 1966 (Image: Archant Library) HISTORY

The Acle Straight originated as a new turnpike road following an Act of Parliament in 1830 for making a new road across the marshes between Acle and Great Yarmouth with a branch road between Seven Mile House (River Bure) and Halvergate village. At the end of May 1830, a decision to create the road was agreed with ditches being created on each side, 37ft apart, and a gravelled road at least 21ft wide was made between them. Head-on collision which left three people dead on the Acle Straight in 1999 (Image: Archant Library) By April 1831, it was almost completed as it awaited the laying of gravel but it was not until later that year when it was fully opened.

The Acle Straight's creation reduced the distance from Great Yarmouth to Norwich by three miles and five furlongs (5.83km). Interestingly, the Acle Straight is mentioned in the song "Stuck In A Rut" by Lowestoft-formed band The Darkness. The lyrics refer to the group trying to get out of their Suffolk hometown, with the road being given as one possible escape route.

A Morris Miner ditched off the A47 in the 60s (Image: Archant Library)A lorry which overturned on the A47 Acle straight on Monday, May 14 2022 (Image: Norfolk Police) Picture of two-car accident on A47 Acle straight taken by Angela Sharpe in 2006 (Image: Archant Library)

A car off the verge along the A47 taken in January 1954 (Image: Archant Library)

References

1. ^ needed to prevent crashes and deaths. (www.edp24.co.uk)
2. ^ dual the Straight (www.edp24.co.uk)
3. ^ reduced speed limit is said to add just under a minute-and-a-half (www.edp24.co.uk)
4. ^ could be brought in as soon as January (www.edp24.co.uk)
5. ^ not all residents along the road agree with, (www.edp24.co.uk)