CHIPPENHAM’S High Street is to close to traffic for an extra three hours each Friday morning, a move to make setting up and visiting the town's market safer and a decision which is long overdue, according to the town’s mayor.

The decision follows a public consultation over several months where residents and businesses were asked to voice their opinion on whether the High Street should be closed earlier on Fridays.

The High Street is already closed from 9.30am until 7.30pm on Friday for the market, but a three month trial period will now take place where it will be shut from 6.30am - a road closure already in place on Saturday mornings.

If the trial period, which begins on January 13, is successful Chippenham Town Council would want to extend the earlier road closure for a further period, possibly up to two years.

Chippenham Mayor Terry Gibson said: “I think it’s long overdue, people using the High Street don’t drive slowly and market traders have their back to the road and sometimes there have been quite close calls.

“I’m not aware of any incidents and I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s an accident waiting to happen but it’s the right thing to do.

“It should have happened a long time ago, we have a duty of care to our market traders and the council have made it safer.

“We’re trying to encourage market traders into the town.”

The High Street will be closed to traffic from the gates at the top of the street and the junction of The Causeway to the bottom of the street by Wilko and WHSmith.

Pedal cyclists will still be able to use it between 6.30-9.30am and emergency vehicles will continue to have access when necessary.

Councillor Peter Hutton, chairman of the planning, environment and transport committee, said: “The Town Council have been working in collaboration with a number of partners for some time to ensure the High Street is safe and welcoming for visitors.

“Our aim is to see the High Street as a traffic free zone during peak operating times and this trial closure will hopefully achieve this for shoppers, visitors and the market traders.”