ANGRY Marlborough residents are being driven round the bend as they claim Wiltshire Council is doing little to tackle the parking, speeding and safety issues plaguing their streets.

For more than a decade, Kingsbury Street residents say their concerns on these issues have fallen on deaf ears, along with their efforts to have a 20mph zone put in place, weight restrictions to deter heavy goods vehicles and more policing of the dangerous corner by the town hall.

Residents from Silverless Street, Herd Street and Barn Street are also calling on Wiltshire Council to do more for their streets, which are troubled by similar issues, and they are also annoyed that nobody from the council’s highways team attended a public meeting last week.

“It was a bit of a farce. The 100 or so people that turned up to the meeting were very cross that they could not be bothered to show up. They don’t seem to take us seriously,” said Kingsbury Street resident Denise Foy, 61.

“We had a really good, civilised discussion but we needed cabinet member for highways and transport Philip Whitehead and others to be there. I am still waiting to find out why they did not come.

“Residents from all of these streets have big issues with safety, parking, speed and pollution, but very little is being done about it despite our protests."

Philippa Davenport Murphy, 77, of Silverless Street, said: "I think it is disgraceful. It would have helped both us and them. Most people were astonished that they did not show up.

“Silverless Street has had so many problems with HGVs hitting houses, it is not safe. But we will have to wait a long time for something to happen with treatment like this.”

Tom Otley, 78, of Kingsbury Street, added: “I think it is pathetic and I feel Wiltshire Council are ducking the issue. This problem won’t go away but they would rather it would.

“However, there is good news as the metro counts on the road gave an average speed of 23.8mph which means that we can qualify for a 20mph zone.”

Councillor Nick Fogg, one of many town councillors and area board representatives to attend the meeting, said: "It was very disappointing that nobody from the Highways team joined us and they voiced their displeasure at how slow the process is when trying to get stuff done."

Coun Whitehead said: "Unfortunately I only found out indirectly about the meeting very late in the day otherwise I would have arranged to attend myself and to be accompanied by a highways officer.

"My understanding is that the Marlborough Area Board asked the local engineer to attend but he was unable to do so.

"I have already contacted both James Shepperd, who chaired the meeting, and Andrew Jack, the community engagement manager, to confirm that I am happy to attend the follow-up meeting with a highways officer.

"The outcome of the first meeting will be worked on by the highways team in preparation for the second meeting."