AUTHORITIES have finally taken heed of the Gazette's Slow It Down campaign to improve safety on the dangerous stretch of the A4 between Chippenham and Calne but the battle isn't over.

On Wednesday next week Wiltshire County Council's regulatory committee will consider plans to extend the 50mph speed limit east of Chippenham to just beyond the Saab garage.

The proposals also include a new 40mph limit from the garage to east of the A342 junction, together with a 40mph restriction to cover the length of the A342 with housing alongside it.

Coun Tony Trotman, former Mayor of Calne and a keen activist in the Gazette's campaign, said the proposals were a step in the right direction but didn't go far enough.

He was particularly concerned the proposed speed limit did not extend to the Studley crossroads which he believed was the most dangerous spot.

"I support and welcome the speed limit for the Derry Hill village along the Devizes Road that's fine.

"But why on earth haven't they included Studley crossroads? They haven't committed themselves to doing anything there and that's where the main problems have occurred."

Coun Trotman and then Mayor of Chippenham Coun Desna Allen, as well as Chippenham town councillor Bill Douglas, were keen supporters of the Gazette's campaign to improve road safety on the A4 and stem the carnage on the road.

They helped collect more than 3000 signatures calling for safety measures.

The expression of people power paid off in October 2003, the Gazette was told that there was no chance of safety measures being implemented on the A4, but spurred on by the alarming number of serious and fatal accidents on the four-mile route in recent years, the A4 Slow it Down campaign was launched.

Finally the county council agreed to add the A4 to its list of routes which are accident blackspots.

Chippenham Town Council objected to the county council's proposals, fearing they did not go far enough and called for a 40 mph limit for Pewsham Way and right along the road to Studley crossroads.

Coun Allen said: "I hope the committee takes the town council's comments on board. I am very concerned about careless driving and speeding. I still regret the fact we weren't allowed an access from the A4 to the new playing field that would have served as a traffic calming method."