MAJOR works need to be carried out to bridges which were built for horses and carts.

Wiltshire County Council has estimated it needs to spend £15m countywide in the next five years on repairs, weight restrictions and strengthening works.

A report was compiled for the county council by engineering experts Ringway Parkman.

David Weston, principal bridge engineer for the county council, said although a number of bridges were found to be substandard, none were at immediate risk or unsafe.

"A lot of the county's bridges are several hundred years old. Even ones built in the 1960s cannot be expected to be in line with new increased EEC vehicle weights which were introduced in January this year," said Mr Weston.

Four bridges in Melksham have been earmarked as high priority in the report Lowbourne bridge, Dunch Lane bridge, Shurnhold and Melksham town bridge.

Engineers have suggested that Dunch Lane bridge, owned by Railtrack, should be closed to vehicles but left accessible by pedestrians and cyclists.

Melksham town councillor and Dunch Lane resident Angie Barker is demanding proper consultation with residents of the lane before any decision is made.

"I am having to notify as many residents as possible about what is in the report. I certainly think that informing the parish and town councils is not proper consultation. The people need to be contacted," said Cllr Barker.

Melksham Town Council decided at its meeting on Monday it would write to the county council voicing its worries.

Margaret Street bridge and Widbrook bridge in Bradford on Avon and Monkton Park Rail bridge in Holt are also high priority bridges.