Lorries and trucks will not be banned from using a narrow country road as a rat-run - at least not as quickly as some councillors would like.

Highworth councillors Vijay Manro and Steve Weisinger - both Conservatives - had introduced a motion to Swindon Borough Council to introduce an experimental traffic order to close the B4000 Shrivenham Road to heavy goods vehicles over a certain size.

But it was amended so much by the Labour administration that in the end the Conservative group voted against it - but it was passed by the votes of councillors from the ruling party.

Introducing the motion to close the road, used by lorries to get from the A420 to the South Marston industrial area while avoiding the White Hart roundabout, Cllr Manro said: “The HGVs have a very good route that can be used which is staying on A420, joining A419, come down A361 and accessing South Marston industrial area.

“These HGVs should not be using the inadequate B4508 and B4000 and coming to Highworth ending up at Fox Roundabout where they turn left onto the A361 and arriving at South Marston industrial area and using this route in reverse.

“There are two schools on B4000 near the Fox Roundabout. The road is not wide enough to allow two lorries to pass without one of them mounting the footway.

“They cause increased noise, air pollution and damage to the highway. Every resident should be entitled to breath clean air, and the safety of children walking to schools on narrow footways should be paramount.”

Councillor Weisinger added: "The volume of Heavy Goods Vehicles that use this road has increased dramatically over the last few years along with residents who live in the area and people coming into and leaving Highworth. The road is now extremely dangerous and prompt action needs to be taken.

"The Shrivenham road is simply being used as a shortcut. By having this motion approved it will make the road a much safer place at an extremely low cost."

The Labour administration’s cabinet member for highways Councillor Chris Watts said he hadn’t been contacted by the Highworth councillors, and introduced an amendment which removed the provision for an experimental ban on lorries on the road.

He said: "I have arranged to meet with Cllr Weisinger to discuss this next week. But it isn’t a simple matter and it won’t just cost a couple of thousand pounds.”

Conservative members voted against the amended motion they had originally brought, but it was passed by the votes of Labour councillors.