Parents call for speed reduction (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Parents call for speed reduction

10:53am Sunday 6th January 2008 in Chippenham By Scott McPherson

WORRIED parents are calling for a speed limit reduction through Christian Malford amid fears for schoolchildren's safety.

A petition has been sent around the village and has already attracted 60 signatures in a matter of days.

Villagers have expressed their concern over the lack of footpaths for children to use as they walk to school and the speed of passing vehicles.

They have also said they are fed up with cars racing through the village using it as a rat run to Chippenham.

Mum of one Angela Brown has condemned the speeding motorists and the lack of road safety measures.

She said: "I am terrified my boy will be hit by a speeding car because there is nowhere else for him to walk.

"I think it is ludicrous that in 2008 we have main roads like the ones here with no footpath.

"People coming into Chippenham ignore the 30mph limit on the main stretch of road and I'm sure they are doing more like 50 or 60mph.

"The trouble is people drive at the national speed limit for most of the B4069 and then don't slow down when they enter the village.

"It is time something was done - if things are left the way they are a child will be killed."

The parish council are now in talks with Wiltshire County Council and the Highways Agency to see if the new lower limit can be implemented.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire County Council said: "We take road safety very seriously and all requests for changes in speed limits are individually assessed and prioritised for funding through the local transport plan."