THE Leap Gate bypass in Trowbridge finally opened this week after months of delays – and five years after work first started – but families say they are still worried about safety.

The road linking Paxcroft Mead to the A350 was due to open in December but street light work meant the opening date was delayed.

Developers Persimmon Homes and Cuddy Construction invested £5.3m in the project, which should ease traffic congestion, but Campaign for A Better Trowbridge says it is still concerned about the 50mph speed limit.

Ken McCall from the group said: “The concerns we had then, we still have now.

“It was last July that we started the campaign and everyone was very upset about the speed limit, including the Hilperton Gap group.

“That was nearly a year ago and I always try to look at the positive.

“Hopefully the past 12 months have time has given the highways people time to think about the issue.

“We as a group have more concerns and the council has had more time to digest them.

“At the moment it is a case of watch this space. I am sure a lot of residents will be watching the speed now Leap Gate is open. We do fear for the safety of children.”

Leap Gate gives access to the Trowbridge development from West Ashton Road in the south and the A361 Hilperton Drive/Devizes Road in the north.

Cllr Steve Oldrieve, who represents Paxcroft Mead, said residents feel their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

He added: “I have already had phone calls about speeding traffic and people are worried.

“The council and the developers have said they have done some of the things we have asked but there are still concerns, such as a barrier that would close off the road to an area where children play.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if they did something before someone is hurt?”

Cllr Oldrieve added: “The only thing I have said to people is to try and keep a log of traffic and speeding cars so we can gather that evidence and try to influence people before it goes wrong and there is an accident.”

Persimmon said it did not wish to comment on the matter.