Town councillors have backed residents living in Rotherstone in seeking a ban on traffic using the road.

Devizes Area Board’s transport group came up with several options to try to stop Rotherstone and Avon Terrace being used as a rat run and following a survey of residents in the street the favoured option was to stop vehicles using the road, except for access.

The results were considered by Devizes Town Council’s planning committee on last week and, despite concerns from some councillors, it agreed to support the residents’ preference and ask Wiltshire Council to advertise the proposal.

At the committee meeting Rotherstone resident Ian Thompson spoke of the concerns about traffic using the road.

He said: “We are very keen that something is done to stop this section of road being used as a rat run. It’s quite dangerous and quite narrow.

"Vehicles are doing 40 mph in a 30 mph limit and if two cars are passing one will drive on the pavement. We would like it to be closed off so it’s accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. It will be a big help and a safety measure.

"If you are putting in a no through road sign it will need policing and I don’t know what you do about Sat Nav. We have had one or two lorries stuck on the bridge.”

Town and Wiltshire councillor Peter Evans said the traffic ban was supported by more than 69 per cent of residents who responded to the survey.

Alternative proposals put forward were traffic calming and a one way system from the Cemetery to Northgate Street, with only about 11 per cent of residents in favour. Of the 49 houses surveyed 37 residents responded.

Coun Jane Burton thought residents of Colston Road and Sheppard Close, which are off Rotherstone, should also have been consulted.

But Coun Ian Hopkins said they would be able to give their views when the proposal is advertised by Wiltshire Council.

He said: “This option (traffic prohibition) is probably the best. In the survey it’s supported by two thirds of the population. This issue has been going on for 20 years and the situation is getting worse. We do need a resolution for the residents of the area.”

Coun Sue Evans said: “It’s a start. This has been going on for years and we need to support the people of Rotherstone.”

The majority of the committee voted in favour of the traffic ban while Coun Pete Smith voted against it.