AN EXPERIMENTAL ban on drivers leaving and entering a housing estate during certain hours of the day could soon be suspended – just weeks after it was put in place.

A 12-month traffic order preventing motorists from turning into Queensfield from Cricklade Road between 7.30am and 9.30am Monday to Friday and turning out of Queensfield on to Cricklade Road between 4.30pm and 6.30pm Monday to Friday started at the end of February.

But the move will be debated at a Swindon Council meeting next Tuesday after a petition containing 385 signatures to keep Queensfield open was handed over.

The petition said: “We call for the immediate suspension of the above order and a public meeting to clarify the views or residents and road users.

“We ask to be appraised of current traffic statistics and sound reasons for the imposition of the above order.

“While we acknowledge that there is an extremely annoying level of through traffic in Abington Way and parts os Queensfield and Duchess Way at morning and peak times and still a quite annoying level throughout the day and night, there is not sufficient justification for the disruption resulting from closures as designated in the order.”

Campaigners say there are other solutions, such as linking Arkwright Road with Hyde Road.

“It is an issue that has set neighbour against neighbour and there has been no agreed alternative to the promised link,” says the petition “We note particularly that there is currently little congestion on this route and a low accident rate, not that a serious accident is unlikely to occur. It was a clear mistake to introduce the above order.”

The petition also says the order has a negative impact on businesses and schools on and near the Queensfield and Hathaway Road estates.

“There have been three public meetings. At these meetings, a closure of the road has always been opposed by the great majority of residents,” the petition says.

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: “Residents have wanted something done about this.

“The scheme is not permanent and can be suspended, but we need to see what works to tackle the problem.

“We need people’s feedback because we want to develop a good scheme that works for as many people as possible.”