RESIDENTS who have fought for almost three years to get drivers to cut their speed to 20mph on Kenilworth Gardens in Melksham hope the new speed limit will be in force before Christmas.

The campaign, spearheaded by Melksham Town Councillor Jon Hubbard, has been beset by problems since its launch. The scheme was hit by a rise in costs and there were worries that the project would never come to fruition, but now the works could be finished this month.

Cllr Hubbard said: “It should be happening this side of Christmas but I will believe it when I see the signs up on the road.

"We have been trying to achieve this for the past couple of years. I was doubtful because it looked like it wasn’t going to happen but now it seems it will.

"It has been a bit of a journey. It started because I usually go and visit people in my constituency to talk to people about the issues they may face, and traffic speeding in Kenilworth Gardens was a big concern.”

The road, which shares a junction with Waverly Gardens and Woodstock Gardens, is used by parents and children making their way to school, and people walking to and from the town centre.

“Speeding is all about perception really. If you stand and watch drivers go down the road, which is currently a 30mph zone, you will think they are driving really fast even if they are only doing 28mph.

"The speed limit at the moment is totally inappropriate. You do have a lot of children walking down the road to get to Melksham Oak and other schools so you want it to be as safe as possible,” explained Cllr Hubbard.

Originally there were also plans to resurface the road at the Kenilworth Gardens junction but that idea was shelved – although the delay meant the cost almost doubled.

“Originally it was quoted at £4,000, maybe £4,500, for all the legal work, Tarmac changes and signs. But because it took so long it is now about £7,500," he said.

"The Melksham Area Board, town council and Wiltshire Council were all helping to pay for it and then we needed to go back for more.”