RESIDENTS of Market Lavington are hopeful that Wiltshire County Council will take action to improve safety on Spin Hill.

Following the death of resident Sharon Oliver in April villagers have campaigned for the 60 mph speed limit to be reduced to 30 mph and for traffic calming measures to be introduced.

A petition signed by 220 people was presented to a meeting of Wiltshire County Council's regulatory committee last week.

The committee agreed to consider reducing the speed limit and see if there was money available to put in other traffic calming measures.

A decision is due to be taken in March 2004.

Market Lavington resident Sharon Charity, who organised the petition, told the Gazette she was impressed by the support shown by the councillors.

She said: "Lots of councillors spoke in support of it, there was not a dissenting voice. My impression was that they recognised that Spin Hill was a special case, particularly in view of the fatal accident.

"There were councillors from north Wiltshire who called for a pavement to be built at the bottom of Spin Hill or an improvement to the footpath across the field."

Councillor Mark Connolly, chairman of the committee, said: "We are waiting for criteria to come from Central Government on 30 mph speed limits but even if it doesn't arrive in time for our meeting in March we are going to look very seriously at the situation."

Market Lavington Parish Council has agreed to part-fund the cost of

reducing the speed limit to 30mph.

The committee was told that in addition to the fatal accident on Spin Hill in April there had been a minor injury

accident there in the last three years.

Mrs Oliver, who lived in Stirling Road, was a passenger in her husband's car when it was in collision with another car near the top of Spin Hill.

Mrs Oliver died at the scene of the crash.

Even before Mrs Oliver's death local residents expressed concern about Spin Hill and called for the speed limit to be reduced.

Spin Hill is on the outskirts of the village and is a steep hill leading down to a blind bend.

Brian Minter, 60, who has lived on Spin Hill for eight years, said traffic continues to speed on the road.

He said: "The fatal accident has made no difference to the speeding traffic.

"Drivers use Spin Hill as a race track, we hear cars and motorbikes screaming down the hill.

"It's a dangerous piece of road and there are quite a few families with children who live here," he said.

There is no footpath all the way along Spin Hill and so residents

wishing to walk into Market Lavington either walk on the road or go on a footpath by the side of a field just off Spin Hill.

Mr Minter, a locksmith, injured his shoulder recently when he slipped on mud while he was walking near the footpath.

He said: "I use the footpath because I am not prepared to risk life and limb by walking on the road.

"As well as a reduction in the speed limit on Spin Hill the footpath needs to be properly made up."

Peter Huntley, 18, of Blackberry Lane, Potterne, has been charged with causing the death of Mrs Oliver by dangerous driving. The case is due to be heard at Salisbury Crown Court on March 1.