Great Cheverell Parish Council is celebrating a permanent 20mph speed limit in the village and is urging drivers to abide by it.

The village has long been a cut through for cars and lorries but the road through the village is narrow and in some places there are a lack of pavements. There have been accidents and near misses in the past.

The parish council has been fighting for a 20mph speed limit for many years and the village was chosen by Wiltshire Council as one of six pilot areas about three years ago.

Parish councillor Chris Hall said Great Cheverell had shown the greatest reduction in speed during the trials and the 20mph limit has been legally confirmed by Wiltshire Council.

The average speed reduction outside Holy Trinity Primary School was 5mph while in the village as a whole the average reduction was 2.4mph.

The parish council has put up posters to ensure motorists and residents are aware of the permanent 20mph limit and will be enforcing it by setting up a Community Speedwatch group.

Lynda Wearn, chairman of the parish council, said: “We want Great Cheverell to be a safer place to be in and a better place to live in. A 20mph limit will deliver a safer road for everyone. Accidents that do happen at slower speeds are less harmful.

“Other important benefits include improvements in the quality of village life; less noise, easier access and sociability within the community on foot or by bike; encouragement of these healthier modes of transport and environmental benefits, as driving more slowly at a steady pace will generally save fuel and reduce pollution.”

Mr Hall is appealing for people to volunteer for Community Speedwatch to enforce the 20mph speed limit. Training will be given and the commitment is a few hours per month. Contact him on (01380) 816983.