PEOPLE may be able to cross the road at Malmesbury's busy Gloucester Road roundabout more safely in future.

Wiltshire County Council had claimed it was not be a suitable place for a pelican or zebra crossing because there were not enough people crossing the road each day.

It said the Tetbury Hill location was unlikely to meet county road safety criteria which required a minimum number of pedestrians.

But North Wiltshire District Council's transport officer, Tim Long, has offered new hope a case for a crossing could be made.

He told members of Malmesbury's Area Committee last week that a new survey could reveal the numbers of people crossing at the roundabout was high enough to justify a crossing.

He said he would approach county council officers to see if a study could be carried out early next year.

It is estimated a crossing at the roundabout will cost between £8,000 and £15,000.

Malmesbury district and county councillor Lesley Bennett said: "This is extremely good news. This is something we have wanted for ages.

"People have been requesting a crossing ever since I have been a county councillor. It is a busy crossing and will be used enormously."

Malmesbury Town Council originally suggested a pelican crossing at the roundabout in June this year.

The idea was supported by Malmesbury's Civic Trust and Malmesbury and St Paul Without Residents' Association.

The groups said the crossing would serve the nearby Malmesbury Primary School, Somerfield store and the Reeds Farm estate.

A recent Wiltshire County Council Safer Routes to Schools study also revealed that the lack of crossing at the roundabout was the second highest cause of concern among Malmesbury's secondary school students.

At a previous site meeting between the town, district and county councils it had been agreed the most feasible crossing improvement would probably be a red marking lines on the road to warn motorists of a junction and crossing ahead.

But this option was not supported by all town councillors, nor Coun Bennett who said this would be inadequate for the area.

She said: "I'm glad the council has come to its senses. I would have protested if it hadn't."