A WINSLEY woman wants the council to introduce Quiet Lanes and a 20mph speed limit on lanes around the village to stop motorists driving on verges and forcing walkers and cyclists off the roads.

Diana Deal, 65, is fed up of motorists destroying grass, vegetation and churning up the ground when they meet oncoming traffic, especially on lanes that join the A363 and B3108 in Winsley.

The Quiet Lanes initiative aims to preserve country lanes and make them more attractive for cyclists, walkers and horse riders, whilst maintaining essential vehicle access for residents, essential services and businesses.

Mrs Deal has lived in Winsley for 17 years and says she has seen a general deterioration in the condition of the lanes.

"This has to stop," she said.

"People do not realise the damage they are causing either side of the roads, putting debris onto the asphalt," she said.

"My solution would involve introducing a 20mph speed limit and creating a few proper passing places, while physically protecting the verges elsewhere.

"Ideally some way would be found to stop satnav sending motorists and lorry drivers down the lanes.

"The lanes are, or should be, a marvellous resource for people to get out and about. Yet I know of mobility scooter users who have given up because of the increasing danger posed by vehicles."

Mrs Deal has written to Cllr Magnus Macdonald and MP Michelle Donelan to see if they can do something about the problem.

"Areas that were once attractive green swathes are now bare earth because motorists fail to reverse," she said.

"As the lanes are widened by vehicles, traffic becomes faster, making life more and more difficult for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and mobility scooter users – something has to be done."

Cllr Magnus Macdonald agreed with her proposals but said financial constraints and feasibility issues could be an issue.

"It is horrible what is happening but God knows what you do to fix it," he said.

"The problem is that by law you have to have a 20mph repeater sign and you also have to get a traffic order, which costs thousands.

"When the Community Area Transport Group has a £10,000 annual pot and it costs £2,500 for Wiltshire Council to even look at it, you can see how finances are a problem.

"Winsley would have to raise its precepts and the trouble is we do not know how much of the population is affected. I agree something needs to be done about aggressive drivers but I do not know what."