New Chippenham 20mph speed limit plans submitted for road

A resident of Hill Rise in Chippenham has put forward a request to tackle road safety issues in the area, including speeding drivers and problems with traffic and parking.

The request includes plans to reduce the speed limit on the steep road to 20mph, install speed humps from the top of the hill down to the junction with Greenway Lane, and remove the large grass area to widen the road.

In 2019 12-year-old Zack Lang was killed on the residential route when he was knocked down by a car while cycling home from school.

At the time Zack’s family called for safety improvements along Hill Rise, including a reduction in the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.

Speaking at a recent planning committee meeting, Chippenham town councillors backed the latest raft of potential road safety measures.

Hill Rise, Chippenham (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Robert Giles spoke in favour of the suggested plans, adding that they should be put forward urgently.

He said: “This is a matter that needs to go forward with some urgency really, the speed limit is sensible for the areas covered.

“If there is a danger of slowing traffic up and making journeys too long, I don’t think it applies to the particular roads in question.”

Cllr William Douglas also offered his support for the scheme and claimed that local mothers “fear” the road.

He added: “The percentile of excessive speed is small however two children were badly damaged, not on that road actually on the side road, we have to get them to look at the problem.

“It is obvious residents’ wishes have been ignored for years… we need to find a solution.

“We have to hammer this one, because there is a general fear in the area amongst all mothers.”

Hill Rise, Chippenham (Image: Newsquest)

The committee voted to put the request through to the Chippenham Local Highways and Footpaths Improvement Group (LHFIG), which will now decide what action should be taken.

Town councillors had already put through a similar request to the LHFIG, and were awaiting a response detailing the proposed solution.

Cllr Matthew Short, the town councillor who sits on the LHFIG, told other committee members that this response was expected shortly, following the approval of the cabinet member for transport.

He believed a 20mph zone would be suggested but added that he backed the new request, as it “added supporting evidence to the residents’ concerns in the area.”