A MAJOR through-route in Swindon has had its speed limit cut nearly in half.

Motorists using Great Western Way, which links west and central Swindon, will have noticed they now have to stick to a 40mph limit.

The busy dual carriageway, which links junction 16 of the M4 with Cirencester Way in Gorse Hill, has seen its limit slashed from 70mph.

It follows a review of the road carried out earlier this year by Swindon Council, which found that certain parts of the road were not designed for high speeds.

Adrian Dean, lead officer for traffic management and road safety, said: "We had been planning to carry out a review of the road in the autumn but we had been carrying out some sign work on the road and decided to move it forward."

As a result of the findings, the council took out an emergency order, reducing the speed limit to 40mph.

However, a decision on whether to make the change permanent will not be made until a meeting of the full council in the next few weeks.

"Some of the government regulations are rather hazy," explained Mr Dean

"A road carrying 70mph traffic needs to have crash barriers in the central reservation, rather like a motorway. But Great Western Way does not have these."

Concern was also expressed about whether several slip roads would be able to cope, in particular at the Mannington Retail Park and an exit on to the road from Toothill.

Mr Dean said: "Most people seem to have reacted well to the change and few have been caught out by it.

"The signs are very clear, and although it is not permanent the limit can be enforced by the police."

Recent surveys carried out by the council show that around 35,000 cars day are using the road.

Anthony Osborne