BARRIERS are being put up on two of the private roads in Savernake Forest which motorists have been using as rat runs to avoid rush hour traffic jams in Marlborough.

Traffic heading north from Salisbury on the Burbage road into Marlborough frequently comes to a standstill, especially on Friday afternoons in the tourist season, and long queues back-up towards Postern Hill.

Many local drivers know that the queues can be avoided by dodging through the Savernake Forest tracks and cutting through to the A4 at Forest Hill where traffic jams are much less likely.

The Forestry Commission and the Savernake Estate have both become concerned at the growing use by motorists of White Road, just south of the Postern Hill picnic and camping site, and Thornhill Drive, opposite the Dobie Wyatt canvas works at Cadley.

Speeding traffic in the forest and on its famous four-mile Grand Avenue, said the Forestry Commission, has not only been putting the wildlife at risk but also the many people who use the forest for recreation, walking and cycling.

Rob Guest, district manager for the Forestry Commission which leases most of the forest from the Savernake Estate, said: "We have been concerned about the increasing volume and speed of vehicles driving through the forest which pose a threat for people and wildlife alike.

"We have agreed the closures with the Savernake estate.

"Although the changes may inconvenience some drivers, we hope they will appreciate why the closures have been undertaken."

Lord Cardigan is the owner and 31st Hereditary Warden of the former royal hunting forest.

He said: "We hope this will redress the balance between those using the forest for recreation, as opposed to those driving through it non-stop using it just as a short cut."

Lord Cardigan added: "We welcome thousands of people here each year for free and that will continue."

Both White Road and Thornhill Drive will have barriers put across them so that motorists can enter at either end but not drive through.

However, walkers, cyclists and horse riders who have permission to ride in the forest will be able to get past the new barriers.

All of the tracks through Savernake Forest including the Grand Avenue are private roads.

This status is maintained by the annual closure of all the forest roads, usually at New Year, to prevent them becoming public rights of way.