A ROAD safety campaigner has made an early breakthrough in her mission to prevent tragedy on a busy road in Swindon.

Mother-of-two Kathy Moore, who fears a child will be killed unless something is done to improve the safety of Grange Drive, compiled a mass of information to back up her crusade.

And about 60 others joined her for a meeting with highways experts and councillor Chris Van Roon at the Stratton Community Leisure Centre.

Following successful talks, the group now hopes it will secure extra safety crossings and flashing warning signs to help safeguard the safety of hundreds of schoolchildren passing through.

Congestion problems caused by car parking near local shops will also be examined and a road survey to investigate the speed and volume of traffic will be completed early next year.

"People had valid points about the volume and speed of traffic along the road," said Mrs Moore.

"It looks like pressure is already paying off and further meetings are being arranged. It would be a shame if something didn't come out of this after all the effort."

Adrian Dean, Swindon Council's group officer for traffic management and road safety, confirmed action would be taken.

"When the results of the traffic survey are available, consideration will be given to other traffic measures," he said.

Coun Van Roon (Cons St Margaret) welcomed the council's decision. "It was a positive meeting and I'm pleased with the result," he said.

"Most members of the public were in favour of safety works but they were not in favour of chicanes or speed humps."

Mrs Moore, 53, an IT tutor at Swindon College, with the help of her friend Alison James, surveyed nearly 200 residents living in Grange Drive.

They found that 98 per cent saw the speed and volume of traffic using the road was a problem.

A Swindon Council survey also showed that the average speed along the road was 34mph and that about 4,200 cars pass through between 7am and 7pm on a typical working day.

Ben Payne