TROWBRIDGE residents and Campaign for A Better Trowbridge are urging Wiltshire Council to make the road throughout the new Castle Mead estate 30mph.

Campaign for A Better Trowbridge believes that the road through the estate, which is known as Leap Gate and will eventually connect with West Ashton Road, should have a 30mph limit.

The group protested about the proposed limit outside County Hall in Trowbridge on Tuesday, before asking the council to reduce the speed along the Leap Gate and Soprano Way road.

Graham Softley, who lives in Paxcroft Mead, spoke at the meeting after Liberal Democrat leader Jon Hubbard called for all members of the public who wished to speak on the subject be heard, after the council said only three could speak because the issue was not on the agenda.

“There have already been several incidents involving children playing outside their homes, despite Leap Gate not being fully open to local traffic,” said Mr Softley.

“If anything, residents feel that the speed limit along the whole of Leap Gate should be reduced to 30mph, as it used to be. Traffic calming measures should also be implemented to keep residents and their children safe, slowing down vehicles exceeding the imposed limit.”

Ken McCall, of Campaign for A Better Trowbridge, also addressed the council and said that the 40 and 50mph limits proposed through residential area both existing and proposed are against the wishes of the people living there.

Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transport Philip Whitehead said he had considered representations to lower the proposed 40mph limit along Soprano Way.

He confirmed that the speed limit between the junction with Green Lane and a point 90 metres south of the roundabout adjacent to Castle Mead School would be reduced to 30mph.

However, Mr McCall believes this does not go far enough and said: “We want the road right through the Castle Mead estate to be reduced to 30mph as there is currently an inconsistency with the plans.

“The public need to know what the speed limit is and it needs to be clear, rather than just making a small stretch 30mph. We are still unhappy with what the council are proposing.

“This is a family area and there are a lot of children around, so people are understandably worried. We feel that if we are not going to get anywhere with Wiltshire Council then we will have to take our serious concerns to London.”

Wiltshire Councillor Steve Oldrieve, Trowbridge Paxcroft Division, said the decision has now been called in and will be reviewed by the overview and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Oldrieve said: “While the cabinet member has reduced part of the road down to 30mph, it raises serious questions as to why the rest of Leap Gate is not reduced to 30mph.

“We were delighted with the number of people who have shown up in support and that was without those who were working. There is a massive strength of feeling and it was also disappointing that some who turned up to the Wiltshire Council meeting could not be accommodated in the chamber.”