A NEW speed limit has been introduced in Chicklade in efforts to improve safety along the A303.

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

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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: “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.”

Perry Payne of 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.”