RESIDENTS are complaining about new traffic calming measures in Covingham.

But the council insists that the changes are doing their intended job of reducing danger - and point out an overwhelming proportion of those who returned a questionnaire were in favour of the work.

Nearly £130,000 has been spent on speed humps and curbed build-ups in the area.

The speed limit in Merlin Way has been cut from 40mph to 30mph, while in Kingfisher Drive and St Paul's Drive, and the roads leading from them it has been cut from 30mph to 20mph. In Covingham Drive the limit remains at 30mph.

Speed measuring carried out by Swindon Council earlier this week shows that the measures are working, the authority says. But a number of local people have been in touch with the council to complain about the changes.

Adrian Dean, group officer for traffic management and road safety, explained: "The aim to reduce the speed of motorists and thus the number of road casualties is already working. We have received some complaints, but this is not unusual when schemes like this are first implemented."

The speed measuring, which took place on Tuesday, found that speeds had fallen from an average of 44mph to 36mph in Merlin Way and Covingham Drive and from 34mph to 25mph in Kingfisher Drive and St Paul's Drive.

"These reductions could easily be the difference which could save a child's life," Mr Dean added.

And councillor Derek Benfield (Lab Covingham & Nythe) also defended the measures, which will be finished next month.

He said: "I believe in zero tolerance on speeding. And residents were overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals."

Consultations held in March found that 93 per cent of the people who responded were in favour of the 30mph limit and 71 per cent supported the 20mph limit. Out of 2,000 surveys sent out, 615 were returned.

Coun Benfield said: "The statistics speak for themselves. People want the roads to be safer. This requires physical traffic calming measures, in addition to signs."

Partly funded by the council and a private developer, the measures aim to fulfil Government targets to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on roads by 40 per cent by 2010. The situation in Covingham will be reviewed in 12 months.

Between 1995 and 1999 there were 52 road casualties in the area, four of which were serious.

Traffic calming schemes, financed by Swindon Council, are also pending completion in Penhill, Park North and Park South and Freshbrook.

The council is currently assessing all residential areas in the town to see where 20mph limits are most needed.