PROTESTORS turned out in force to object to Wiltshire Council’s proposed 50mph speed limit along the Hilperton Relief Road on Tuesday, with more than 150 people gathering outside County Hall.

The long-awaited road, which is due to be completed in September, is currently being constructed by Bristlewand on behalf of Persimmon Homes, after planning permission was granted in 2006.

Highways officers recommended that the council set the speed limit at 50mph along the road, despite strong opposition from Hilperton Parish Council, Trowbridge Town Council, police, two nearby primary schools and the Paxcroft Mead Residents' Association.

Before the council’s full meeting on Tuesday, Hilperton Gap Action Group (HGAG) gathered outside County Hall to protest the proposed speed limit, even though the limit was set at 40mph when the road was approved.

Resident Bill Cale, of St Thomas Road, said before the meeting: “I would urge the council to lower the limit to 40mph as the way the road is designed it could be like Brands Hatch.

“It has a long, slight curve which could cause drivers to put their foot down and if it is set at 50mph, I could see drivers going more like 60mph. There is no reason for it to be more than 40mph.”

Bob Winslow, who lives in Moyle Park, said: “It is totally unnecessary to raise the speed limit to 50mph and it should be reduced back to 40mph with some traffic calming measures.”

As well as asking the council to change the maximum speed limit to 40mph, Hilperton Gap Action Group (HGAG) called for the land either side of the relief road to be saved from housing.

George Bunting told councillors: “There must be sensible phasing which means that development of the Gap must not be considered in the current plan period to 2026 and until West Ashton Park is safely delivered.

“The proposal to include the Gap as a site for further housing is a knee jerk panic reaction by this council to developer moves to manipulate the Core Strategy. Who controls this town? The people or Persimmon Homes?”

Following the public representation in the meeting, which did not include the speed issue on the agenda, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways and transport Philip Whitehead confirmed the Hilperton Relief Road speed limit will be 50mph.

Wiltshire Councillors Ernie Clark, Hilperton Division, and Steve Oldrieve, Trowbridge Paxcroft Division, called-in the speed limit decision after the meeting and it will now be reviewed by the overview and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Clark told the Wiltshire Times after the meeting: “I have called the decision in as it needs to be looked at again. It just shows the disregard Wiltshire Council has for public opinion as absolutely no one wants the relief road to be 50mph.

“What difference will making it 10mph faster make to anyone? Setting the limit at 50mph provides a benefit for no one, while it causes a serious disadvantage to many as it makes there area unsafe.”