Plan unveiled to reduce speed at crash hotspot

Rowde parish councillor Chris Greenwood has seen the aftermath of incidents on the road for many years

A section of A-road which has been the location of a number of fatal crashes could have its speed limit reduced under new safety plans.

Wiltshire Council has begun a consultation over a proposal to reduce traffic to 50mph on the A361 at Caen Hill, near Devizes, alongside other changes, such as new traffic lights at one of the junctions.

The authority also has to decide on potential changes on the section in the Rowde parish area, which is partially a dual carriageway, legally allowing motorists to drive at 70mph.

Rowde parish councillor Chris Greenwood has wanted a change for many years. "The traffic comes up and down here far too fast," he said.

"There are far too many risks and incidents along here where vehicles are pulling out negotiating to turn right," Mr Greenwood added.

"Normally [it] would be considered safe but there are too many entrances and exits along here to make it safe. I really do feel that we've got to reduce the speed limit along this stretch," he said, adding that coming in and out of the junctions on the fast road can be "quite hairy".

A section of the A361 past Rowde and Caen Hill is a dual carriageway, so people can travel at 70pmh

Mr Greenwood moved to the area in 1979 and said fatalities happened "almost straight away".

"As a family, we've seen the aftermath of serious incidents along the stretch of road."

He said people can get aggressive and many try to overtake on the duelled section, suddenly finding themselves in the 30mph zone in Devizes.

"All they're going to do is overtake about 10 vehicles just to sit in another queue for 20 minutes," he added.

There are several junctions down the road which drivers have to negotiate

Councillor Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways at Wiltshire Council, explained it is a priority section for them and the process to change the speed limit will take at least another few months - if the change is approved.

"The last 10 years, we've had 27 recorded injury collisions. We want to avoid every one, but accidents do happen.

"The main ones in the last few years have been people doing turning movements across the junction," he told the BBC.

He added there is work ongoing to get other safety improvements including traffic lights at the Marsh Lane junction, better drainage, lighting and improved pedestrian and cycle crossings.