TRAFFIC calming in Bristol Street, Malmesbury, will be achieved through traffic lights and street widening, a working group set up to tackle the issue has recommended.

The road has gained a reputation as a blackspot, with blind bends and narrow pavements creating a risk to pedestrians from articulated lorries and speeding motorists.

A working group set up in December, made up of nine residents with representatives from town, district and county councils, chose traffic lights rather than a 20mph speed restriction and speed bumps as the best way to combat the problem.

The group took the decision after a month-long survey of residents in and around Bristol Street revealed that most people wanted traffic lights and street widening.

Of the 365 votes cast, 45 per cent voted for traffic lights, 27 per cent for speed bumps and 28 per cent voted for no action at all.

Deputy mayor and Malmesbury district councillor Patrick Goldstone chaired the meetings.

He said: "While there wasn't a 50 per cent plus vote for any one solution the group decided to recommend one that had got the most support.

"These proposals have come from the people and it was a real community effort with tremendous advice from the highway and signal engineers."

The proposal will see traffic lights installed at the junction of Foxley Road and Bristol Street.

The intelligent system will have two sets of lights placed on Bristol Street, one approximately 100 metres before Foxley Road from the town centre end and the second at the junction of the two roads, with a one-way section to restrict traffic flow to and from town.

A further set will be placed on Foxley Road to control traffic flow into town.

There will be pedestrian lights across each road and the traffic lights will turn red automatically when there is no traffic.

Street widening to extend the pavement to 1.5 metres on the Foxley Road side of Bristol Street for 100 metres towards town will narrow Bristol Street, at that section, to one lane.

Coun Goldstone said the advantages of the scheme were that it would slow traffic down as well as providing more room for pedestrians and a safe route to school. He said it would also prevent large lorries from meeting head on.

Bristol Street resident and member of the working group Stuart Richmond said: "I think the traffic lights solution was preferable to the other options. It is the only option which widens the pavement around Keynes Hill and will slow traffic down."

Signal engineers addressed concerns that the traffic signals would create gridlock after a survey of the road at its busiest times and computer simulation showed a maximum queue of five cars at each junction.

In addition, Wiltshire County Council said the system would be reviewed in a year to assess its success.

Wiltshire County Council has also recently informed HGV companies that Bristol Street should not be used as a through road.

Coun Goldstone added the perceived problems with the other options were that reducing speed to 20mph with traffic humps did not tackle the issue of pedestrian safety.

He said he felt most of the people who voted for no action were looking for a comprehensive strategy for traffic problems to the west of the town.

Jill Stephens of Bristol Street, part of the working group, is also in that camp. She said: "The traffic light option will cause inconvenience, pollution and additional engine noise for those affected by the system.

"We were unable to consider a broader solution within the time and cash constraints but it is hoped that in the near future a more far reaching consultation process will be initiated to address the many traffic problems that Malmesbury presents."