National Highways works with partners to improve safety for A303 Wiltshire village

Working with both Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Council, the company has identified safety issues with residents' access onto the single carriageway section of the A303, and has now reduced the speed limit from 50mph to 40mph as part of an ongoing trial.

As part of the road safety study, National Highways has introduced a permanent speed reduction order and installed new signage and road markings, with new road studs and vehicle-activated signage to be installed in the near future.

Chris Hilldrup, National Highways' A303 Route Manager, said: "Safety is the first priority for National Highways, and we constantly monitor the safety performance of all our roads, including the A303.

"Given the longstanding severance and access issues for the village, evidenced by an increase in incidents recently, we have engaged with Tim Pollard, the parish chair, and residents, and took the decision to reduce the speed limit initially. This will be enforceable, and we will conduct further monitoring in the meantime.

"This study will consider all aspects of road safety for both users of the A303 and the local community and, continuing to work with our local authority partners, data will help to inform evidence for any potential future measures."

The new speed limit is now enforceable, and Perry Payne, from the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership, said: "This is a really good result from partners listening to communities, reacting and continuously working together to make our roads safer.

"Road Safety is a high priority for the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable, and of course Wiltshire Police will continue to provide future enforcement support should it be necessary."

Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "We were pleased to work with both National Highways and Wiltshire Police on this project in Chicklade. I would like to thank National Highways for reducing the speed limit and making access on to the A303 safer for both local residents and visitors.

"Road safety is a key part of our Business Plan, and we will continue to work with our partners to continue to make Wiltshire's roads safer."

For more details on National Highways' work in the South West go to the National Highways website.

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England's motorways and major A roads.

Real-time traffic information for England'smotorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.

For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:

Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiries
Option 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)
Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.