CALLS for safety measures to slow down drivers on a busy village road near Malmesbury have intensified, after two serious crashes in the past week.

Residents in Corston are demanding action to prevent any further incidents, with potentially more serious consequences.

The A429 is a major trunk road which divides the village and among the measures being pursued by residents is a pedestrian crossing, to allow school children to cross the road safely A recent study of traffic passing through the area, carried out due to a proposed housing development, recorded approximately 12,500 vehicles a day.

The calls for safety measures have grown after two serious incidents on the ‘bridge bend’ during the past week, where the drivers were fortunate to escape without serious injuries.  Resident Sarah Jane Smith’s garden and hedge run alongside the road and she said that it usually the front of her property that bears the brunt of the crashes.

She said: “We’ve had meetings with the councillors and highways agency who say that as no fatalities have been reported, they can’t really do anything.  “There were positive small changes to signage and road markings early last winter, which obviously aren’t working.”

People living in the area are also concerned about the safety of children who need to cross the road on a daily basis to catch the bus to school.  Ann Skinner said the issue had been ongoing for many years: “I began campaigning for a safe pedestrian crossing when my son was in primary school; he is now 28.”

“One day a child was waiting to cross the road to get the school bus, which was waiting on the other side of the road in the bus stop, but the driver drove off after waiting so long, the child had no opportunity to cross as the traffic was constant, and so missed it.

“I recall meetings with Highways Engineers when I was told there was no economic justification for a crossing ‘because there hadn’t been any fatalities’. The sooner we get some effective traffic calming measures and a proper pedestrian crossing the better, it will improve life in the village for everyone who lives here.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We carried out improvement work on this bend in 2016/17 – which included additional signs and road markings.

"There is also a Puffin crossing proposal in Corston (just north of Barnes Close), which is being funded through the community area transport group and developer money.

"This is due to be installed in 2018/19. 

“We will of course look into any incidents, and would always recommend people drive to the road conditions and layout.”