I am writing with respect to road safety on The Down and Wyke Road. These linked roads are used as speed zones by many motorists. It is not unusual to see cars and motorcycles travelling at far above the speed limit (estimated at 60 mph) to the danger of other road users and pedestrians.

There is one motor cycle that uses the roads morning and evening and reaches speeds of approximately 70mph. Many large lorries also use the road instead of going by way of Canal Road.

I have spoken in the past to the Traffic Division of the County Police, who set up measuring equipment to monitor the traffic. They confirmed that vehicles do exceed the speed limit, but cannot do anything themselves except use speed traps which are only effectual while in place. The time for the traps is morning and evening when traffic flow is greatest.

I have been told in the past that traffic calming i.e. Sleeping Policemen cannot be used, as the road is a bus route, but chicanes are an alternative and relatively low in cost to install. They are being sited in many villages outside Trowbridge.

It has been noticed that traffic calming has been installed on the end of Wyke Road, this road is not clear and straight such as to encourage speeding and in fact is a no-through road. Calming is also being installed at other locations in Trowbridge i.e. College Road, Studley. These roads are not straight and I am sure do not encourage the speeds we have to put up with.

There have been many accidents at the junction of Wyke Road and Victoria Road and there is an entrance to a primary school at the top of The Down. I would think that these two points were sufficient to support the installation of traffic calming in at least two locations along the roads.

I have canvassed the residents of the two roads in question, and without exception they want calming. I enclose copies of their signatures for your information, the missing ones were not in when I called, it was not a case of not signing.

We have all seen the money being spent on roads in the town and believe that the council is not spending it in the fairest way; the votes in our area carry as much weight as those in others.

Your comments and possible implementation of my suggestions above would be appreciated.

JF Tarr,

Trowbridge.