Residents say ‘no’ to 40mph on Melksham East relief road

Residents are petitioning against Wiltshire Council’s proposals to turn a relief road off Eastern Way in Melksham East into a 40mph zone.

Members of the local community have objected to the plans for a 40mph limit, calling it an ‘accident waiting to happen’ and are instead campaigning for a 30mph zone to safeguard the welfare of pedestrians, including schoolchildren, who will use the road.

Wiltshire Council recently ran a public consultation for a proposal to turn the relief road, known as Rocket Road, into a 40mph zone. The relief road, which runs parallel to a new housing estate, provides access to the road to Melksham Town FC and Melksham Rugby Club. When opened, the road will join up with the new roundabout which is being constructed at the end of Snowberry Lane where it joins Spa Road.

“Everyone is in agreement that 40mph is too fast,” said Rob, who lives in Angelica Avenue and launched the petition.

“I am a professional driver; I am a truck driver, so I know how people drive. Down that road, 40 is just too fast.”

Later this year, the long-awaited footpath is due to be built by Wiltshire Council, connecting Melksham Oak Community School with Melksham East. Children from Melksham East will cross the relief road to access the school and Wiltshire Council has planned two crossings. The council says it has amended proposals to include a new puffin crossing on the link road where the children will cross. Once the new shared-use path to the south is built, the puffin crossing will now be modified into a toucan (cycle/pedestrian) crossing.

Wiltshire Council says, “Installation works are on-going and there is no intention to open the link road to through traffic until the new signal-controlled crossing is operational.

“A toucan crossing is also being installed at the end of the link road at the new Spa Road roundabout. This will ensure that controlled crossing provision is available on both potential school routes to and from Melksham Oak.”

However, residents say that the proposed speed limit of the relief road must also be reduced in order to safeguard children who will be using the road.

Rob said, “I know Wiltshire Council is putting two crossings in, but I would say that 70% of kids that go to the Oak will be crossing that road.

“There is also concern around children walking to the football club and rugby club too. There’s absolutely nothing there and a lot of kids walk there. My road is Angelica Avenue which is the last bit before the double roundabout and there is no protection there at all. There are about 30 kids on that estate. They have built the houses, it’s a nice environment and all the kids play out on the street, it’s lovely, but there is no protection.

“A lot of trucks are going to use that relief road and driving a truck at 40mph with children around is not a good move.”

“I drive trucks out of Bristol and there are roads in Bristol that are very similar roads with houses on either side with relief roads. On one of the roads in particular, Bristol Council has just made that into a 30mph zone. There are examples of why it should be a 30.”

Local councillor Mike Sankey has also raised concern and said this is a ‘life-or-death decision for the authority to make. He said, “A speed limit reduction will cost motorists practically nothing in terms of increased journey times, but in the event of a collision with a child could be the difference between life and death. This life-or-death decision is in the hands of the cabinet member whom I am confident will make the right choice.”

When the petition has gained enough signatures, Rob says he will submit it to Wiltshire Council and the newly elected MP, Brian Mathew.