A PARISH councillor in Langley Burrell has slammed Wiltshire Council's decision to allow people to move into 140 homes at Barrow Farm near Chippenham before improvements are made to junction 17 of the M4.

Coun David Mannering fears the increase in home owners will add to the dangerous conditions on the motorway.

He said: "Junction 17 was already overloaded and there are a number of long tailbacks near the exit at peak times to the point where people are queuing in the slow lane. Since I've retired I haven't had to experience this but when I go cycling, I pass over the bridge and I can see the tailbacks.

"I have been speaking to friends as well from around the area and about everyone has said how long it takes to get off the motorway and how everyone is scared of getting a shunt."

In February Highways England requested a condition, which prevents the start of a development to prevent any further developments being built in Chippenham until a signalling scheme on the M4 had been completed.

Despite this condition Highways England and Wiltshire Council agreed last month that 140 of the 500 houses on the new Barrow Farm development could be occupied before the junction 17 improvement scheme is completed and open to traffic.

Coun Mannering said: "You would think if they already thought we had a situation that is dangerous, they wouldn't do anything to make it worse and that seems to be what Highways England have done.

"If something is already exceeding its capacity, you don't make it worse. This is absolute nonsense Highways England and Wiltshire Council have been asleep at the wheel to allow this to happen."

Highways England and Wiltshire Council said: "Highways England and Wiltshire Council have been working in partnership to identify and agree an improvement scheme at M4 junction 17 to safely accommodate future planned growth in Chippenham.

"Our plan is to signalise the motorway off-slips so that we can increase the capacity of the junction by better managing traffic flows, and reduce queuing on the M4 in this location.

"Highways England and Wiltshire Council remain committed to securing funding and we are continuing to work together to ensure that the scheme is delivered as early as possible so that planned growth can commence."