Campaigners in Gastard have seen success after a long-running battle to reduce the speed limit through the village.

After years of campaigning, Wiltshire Council has agreed to reduce the speed limit on the B3353.

The limit on the stretch from Whitley to Gastard will be cut from 60mph to 50mph, while the road north of the village past the Linleys Farm Cottages has been reduced from 40mph to 30mph.

Dave Martin, clerk to Corsham Town Council, said: “We had put in a request years ago, which was refused in 2010. We then had to appeal, so it’s been ongoing for at least three years, but the problem has gone on long before that.

“We understand the changes will come in by the end of December.”

Gastard resident and former town councillor Jenny Collier said: “For a long time the council has been trying to get something done at The Linleys.

“I walk down the village quite a lot and notice people adhere to the speed indicators when they go off.

“Anything that helps with trying to get people to stick to the speed limit is a good thing.”

Several accidents have taken place on the road. In 2005 a 17-year-old girl suffered serious injuries in a head-on collision, and in 2009 a 38-year-old man had to be airlifted from a crash in the village.

Volunteers from the Gastard Speedwatch group have long called for the change. Mrs Collier said: “They do catch quite a few people who go over the limits.”

Speedwatch organiser Stuart Graham said the group would continue to monitor traffic. He said: “There are a lot of heavy goods vehicles going through Gastard at the moment, so we definitely welcome the reduction to the south.

“We will still be focusing on the speed limit. It does get ridiculous here; we have seen a woman come down at 62mph while on her mobile phone, and this is when children are going to school.”