Town councillors have backed calls to lower the speed limit on a “dangerous” Wiltshire road bordering a large housing estate.
On Thursday, October 24, Chippenham Town Council’s planning committee voted to support a highways improvement request for Saltersford Lane.
The request called for the 50mph speed limit on the road, which links the A4 Bath Road to Patterdown Road, to be lowered to 30mph.
Residents believe the route has become unsafe due to the fact it borders the large Hunters Moon development, claiming the speed of traffic is dangerous for pedestrians and could cause a “serious accident.”
Wiltshire Council has already agreed that the developer of a planned housing estate on the other side of the road will fund speed limit reductions if and when its scheme goes ahead.
But town councillors have pushed through the request to the Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group in the hope changes will be “expedited”.
READ MORE: Calls for 'horrendous' 50mph speed limit on busy road to be lowered
Cllr Adam Ward said: “Pedestrian access should have been considered on the current development and not left to be picked up by subsequent developments.
“In any case I think the safety aspects mean we have to put this one forward and give it precedence rather than waiting for the subsequent development to pick it up.”
Cllr Nic Puntis agreed that the current arrangement on the route was dangerous.
He added: “That road used to be 40mph, it was then increased to 50mph before any properties were built at Hunters Moon and everybody was surprised.
“More than one resident has made representations… there is a pedestrian and cycle access out onto this road and that in itself is a very dangerous area.
“There’s no harm in putting it forward on the basis that we don’t have a timescale for the development on the other side of the road.”
The Chippenham Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group will now consider if any changes will be made to the route.
The original request put forward by a resident called for the introduction of a one-way system and traffic calming measures, like chicanes or speed bumps, to deter drivers from breaking any new restrictions.
They added: “The speed limit should be lowered to at least 30mph. Pedestrians, cyclists, runners, dog walkers all use this lane and should be able to do so safely.
“Motorists have the A350 which is sensible for 50mph. This lane is not. Please consider families, children, wildlife, domestic animals.
“I love Chippenham, but I absolutely hate this lane, at 50mph it needs urgent attention.”
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