SPEED campaigners who succeeded in extending the 40mph limit along Malmesbury's Burton Hill are happy with new safety measures, despite not getting everything they asked for.

John Wheatley, who led his neighbours in a campaign to slow traffic and stop reckless overtaking, has written to Wiltshire County Council to thank it for the extended speed limit and new pavement that has been installed.

"We are enjoying the luxury of being able to walk into Malmesbury in relative safety," he said. "It's good news and we count this as a bit of a victory."

He said he and neighbours had noticed that the traffic had slowed, but that residents would be keeping an eye on the situation to see if people kept to the new 40mph limit.

He added that the most effective solution to dangerous overtaking on the road would be double white lines.

"One of our major concerns was the potentially lethal and frequent practice of overtaking often in the face of on-coming traffic. Time will tell whether the new arrangements will put a stop to this," he said.

A spokesman for the county council said that the road did not meet Government criteria for white lines.

Director of environmental services Richard Lander was delighted with the letter.

He said: "We work very hard to improve the road network in Wiltshire and it is extremely satisfying when this is recognised."

SPEED campaigners who succeeded in extending the 40mph limit along Malmesbury's Burton Hill are happy with new safety measures, despite not getting everything they asked for.

John Wheatley, who led his neighbours in a campaign to slow traffic and stop reckless overtaking, has written to Wiltshire County Council to thank it for the extended speed limit and new pavement that has been installed.

"We are enjoying the luxury of being able to walk into Malmesbury in relative safety," he said. "It's good news and we count this as a bit of a victory."

He said he and neighbours had noticed that the traffic had slowed, but that residents would be keeping an eye on the situation to see if people kept to the new 40mph limit.

He added that the most effective solution to dangerous overtaking on the road would be double white lines.

"One of our major concerns was the potentially lethal and frequent practice of overtaking often in the face of on-coming traffic. Time will tell whether the new arrangements will put a stop to this," he said.

A spokesman for the county council said that the road did not meet Government criteria for white lines.

Director of environmental services Richard Lander was delighted with the letter.

He said: "We work very hard to improve the road network in Wiltshire and it is extremely satisfying when this is recognised."