A BRADFORD on Avon residents’ group is furious over parts of the town being turned into ‘Monte Carlo’.

BOA Residents’ One-Way Group is angry at what it calls growing traffic, speeding cars and lack of traffic calming measures caused by the controversial social distancing scheme, and wants immediate action ‘to reduce traffic volume and slow the flow before we witness an inevitable tragedy’.

The group claim the scheme has put public safety at risk as traffic from the A363 has been diverted to residential streets such as Springfield and New Road.

A spokesman for the group said: “Resident monitoring of the B3109 proves that vehicles numbers have more than tripled since before the scheme.

“But more worrying is that with the removal of the traffic lights Bradford on Avon has become in effect a racing track.

“Traffic speeds have been recorded at approaching 55 mph in New Road and the sheer volume of traffic means it’s only a matter of time before we witness a serious accident.”

Leader of Bradford Town Council, Cllr Dom Newton, said: “We have asked Wiltshire to consider protections for New Road since very early in this process, and repeatedly in meetings on September 4, 7 and 8, since the lights were removed, highlighting residents and members’ concerns on both speed and traffic volumes, with these clearly increasing in the 10 days or so since that was done.”

Cllr Newton added that the town council has not seen any solution to the issues from Wiltshire Highways.

He said: “New Road is becoming very problematic to cross safely and even with traffic seeming to obey the speed limit, traffic flow is pretty much constant, with parked cars along much of the length, making it increasingly dangerous.”

“Town council members, and residents alike, are very keen to receive an update from Wiltshire Council on proposed solutions.”

Cllr Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways, said: “The experimental scheme in Bradford on Avon has been designed and implemented by Wiltshire Council at the request of the town council, which paid for it in order to enable pedestrians to socially distance safely.“The scheme is a six-month long experiment, and as such we are encouraging comments from residents, so we can make changes as appropriate. Indeed, we have already removed the traffic lights from the Town Bridge as result of feedback from both residents and businesses.

“People can comment on the scheme to Bradford on Avon Town Council or to Wiltshire Council directly on integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk.

“Where there are specific concerns regarding vehicles exceeding the speed limit, people should contact the police, as while some routes that traffic takes in the town have altered, the speed limits remain unchanged.”

“We would urge all motorists to drive carefully and safely and adhere to the speed limits at all times.”