RESIDENTS of a Wiltshire village have again called for the speed limit through it to be reduced.

It came following a packed village hall meeting to discuss speed limits and traffic management issues in Lacock.

Residents flocked to a meeting in the popular National Trust village on Tuesday (August 9) after voicing concerns about drivers speeding and rights of way over the bridge near Lacock Abbey.

They have called for the speed limit in the village – which is frequently used as a blockbuster Hollywood film set and attracts thousands of visitors a year – to be lowered to 20mph.

Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan called the public meeting in response to the many constituents who have contacted her about the issue.

Lacock Parish Council had called for a lower speed limit at the bridge between the village and Bowden Hill, as well as signage or traffic lights to indicate who has rights of way.

The MP said: “It was an excellent forum with all the right people in the room to hear the concerns of the village. I look forward to making progress with everyone now pulling together.”

Councillor Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways; the council’s highways officer Dave Thomas; Cllr Jane Durrant, chair of Lacock Parish Council, and Ian Wilson from the National Trust, also attended the meeting.

Miss Donelan added: “The whole village was made aware beforehand and there was a great turn-out.

“There was a clear consensus from the attendees that the speed limit in the village should be lowered to 20mph, along with other improvements to manage traffic flow.

“I have committed to work to push this forward and break down the barriers - for one the National Trust have said they can look at potentially helping with funding.

“A huge thanks must go to the parish council who have been working hard on these issues.

“As a result of Tuesday night’s meeting Wiltshire Council committed to meeting with the parish council and National Trust to bottom out a way forward to crack on, focusing on the speed limit in particular.”

Tuesday’s meeting followed a previous meeting Miss Donelan held with the residents and the councils to discuss traffic management and speed limits.

After listening to residents’ concerns at the initial meeting, Wiltshire Council commissioned a strategic overview of what needs to be done.

“There is now an urgent need to progress those measures, hence the need for another meeting,” Miss Donelan added.