Roaring engines and fast cars are a speciality for Lotus but now the firm is looking to REDUCE the speed limit in a road near its headquarters.
The Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer has suggested dropping the limit from 60mph to 30mph in Potash Lane - a road which provides access to the Lotus production facility in Hethel via the B1135 Wymondham Road.
The claim was revealed during discussions at a recent Bracon Ash and Hethel Parish Council meeting and it is understood the firm has held initial discussions with both the local authority and Norfolk police.
When contacted by this newspaper about the proposals, Lotus declined to comment.
The news comes amid an escalating dispute over company staff speeding through Hethel.
People living near the facility claim that they are being woken in the early hours by workers heading home from night shifts at high speeds.
The noisy nightly commute - which has been dubbed the 'Lotus Rally' by villagers - has even prompted involvement from local police.
Bracon Ash and Hethel Parish Council previously raised the issue with the company, but claim there has been “no improvement whatsoever” and the management is not doing enough to stop it.
And in a major escalation of the row, the authority threatened to thwart the Chinese-owned firm's major redevelopment plans for the site.
Colin Rudd, chairman of the parish council, previously told this newspaper: "I'm not opposed to the expansion as such.
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“And it’s very important that Lotus are here as they bring benefits to the area.
“But we don’t know what the buildings are going to be used for.
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“And, on the issue of noise, if they can't control it now then what impact will this huge expansion have?"
Lotus has always maintained it is taking the issues around noisy employees "very seriously" and it is understood senior management spoke to staff about the issue.
According to the recent parish council meeting, senior management at the firm told officers they would be "happy" for police to prosecute, but also asked the constabulary to support plans for a speed limit reduction.
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