Local group ask for 30 mph limit through new residential areas to the South East of Trowbridge

Press Release from Campaign for A Better Trowbridge

People moving into the new Castle Mead estate may be unaware of the intention to make the suburban road known as 'Soprano Way' into a busy road with cars and lorries going at 40 mph.

Government Guidance from the Department for Transport makes it clear that national speed limits should be set to 30 mph on street-lit roads through residential areas. The guidance speaks of the need to take into account noise, visual impact, and needs of pedestrians. Campaign for A Better Trowbridge are very concerned that Wiltshire Council seem to be ignoring this guidance. Apart from cutting the estate in half, there are implications for safety, walking to school and the sheer unpleasantness of HGVs past your front door.

Planners in the 1980s severed Trowbridge into two when County Way was built. The risk is that 40 years later the new suburbs of our town will also be severed by a road that is just too fast. A 30 mph limit would be much fairer on people living or moving into the area.

Ken McCall of Campaign for A Better Trowbridge said:

'Soprano Way is currently being used by children, mothers and buggies, people walking to the school, people using buses and people on bicycles. This is because it is a kind of 'high street' through the estate. However, not only is the speed worryingly set to 40 mph, we understand that no pedestrian crossings or traffic calming is planned'.

Chance for local people to comment

After Castle Mead the next large Trowbridge estate proposed is at Ashton Park . This housing once again centres on Soprano Way as its 'high street'.

The planning application for Ashton Park is now in. This gives people a chance to comment that the new road system through new residential parts of South Eastern Trowbridge should be set at 30 mph with crossings for pedestrians, traffic calming and a really good bus service into town.

People can also write directly to Campaign for A Better Trowbridge for more information.

Please email sandraandken@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07809 758985.

Contact: Ken McCall 07809758985

The planning application for Ashton Park can be found here.