A RESIDENT clocked speeding motorists in Dilton Marsh to highlight the dangers of speeding traffic in the village.

Armed with a radar gun, David Rhodes has completed a survey which revealed that more than half of the people driving along the High Street were breaking the speed limit.

He fears the problem will escalate if several hundred more houses are built in the area.

He said: "The problem is going to get much, much worse. The major housing development in Westbury Leigh is only about a third complete with the total number of houses to be built now projected at nearly 1,000.

"Currently there are at least six further housing development projects under way in Westbury."

The West Wilts District Plan has earmarked several potential construction sites on brownfield land and if the Ministry of Defence sells Leighton House for housing, a further 400 to 700 houses could be added to the total.

Mr Rhodes continued: "To the vehicles originating from the housing developments must be added the predictable increase in traffic volumes from the Westbury industrial estate along the Western Distributor road, all of which will result in a truly massive increase on today's High Street traffic."

He will question Richard Lander, the director of environmental services, at a Wiltshire County Council meeting next Wednesday to ask him if he is aware that 52 per cent of the traffic is breaking the speed limit.

"In my view, these findings present a cast-iron case for installation of traffic calming measures in the High Street," said Mr Rhodes.

"In addition, they also provide the parish council with reinforcing evidence of the need to steer the weight of traffic to and from the A36 away from Dilton Marsh."

Westbury councillor Bill Braid is pushing for safety measures and said the revenue from a speed camera would help fund traffic calming.

Dilton Marsh parish council clerk Gordon Brockhurst said: "You can bet that we'll get no money for traffic calming again next year. The county council haven't actually said they will do nothing until someone is killed or injured, but it seems to be the implication."

Traffic manager for Wiltshire County Council Andrew Wyatt said Dilton Marsh was on their list for potential sites for traffic calming, but it was not one of the priorities for this year.

He said: "Money is available to encourage walking and cycling. Any parish can apply, so as a result we have a long list of requests."