A primary school headteacher says a traffic calming trial being carried out in Corsham is making it safer for her pupils to walk to school each day.

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School head Rita McLoughlin believes the two-week trial – in which South Place is temporarily down to one lane, until April 30 – has had a positive effect.

Traffic from Pound Pill has been given priority over vehicles coming from Pickwick Road, while more space has been created for pedestrians on the usually narrow pavements of South Place.

Miss McLoughlin said: “It is interesting, as we operate a walking bus every Thursday and Friday and we’ve certainly noticed a difference.

“We’ve seen more families walking along South Place and the trial seems to make walking to our school safer for pupils and their parents.”

At the end of last year, the primary, in Lacock Road, introduced a series of measures aimed at combating the chaotic traffic conditions which it experienced at the start and the end of the school day.

One of the measures led to the school welcoming its first ever crossing patrol officer.

Miss McLoughlin said: “Things are getting better now. I spoke to our crossing guard, Lisa Partridge, about the effects of the South Place trial and she has said the roads are much calmer and quieter.

“So, from the school’s point of view, it seems to be working. That’s a purely selfish point of view from the school.

“I don’t know what the wider impact has been, but it’ll be interesting to see the results of the volunteers’ monitoring.”

Volunteers from Corsham Community Area Network have carried out a survey of pedestrian and motorist numbers during the traffic calming trial and have handed the data to Corsham Town Council.

Town clerk David Martin said: “We are collating the data from the volunteers and we’ve also had some feedback from some the residents of Corsham.

“We’d really like to hear from people and get their views on whether this trial has been a success, or if it has had a negative effect.”

Residents’ feedback will be handed to Wiltshire Council.

If the trial is deemed to be a success, South Place could permanently become one lane and the narrow pavement could be extended.

In the meantime, once the trial finishes South Place will become two lanes again, until a decision has been made.

To give feedback on the South Place trial, email Corsham Town Council at towncouncil@corsham.gov.uk or visit Corsham Town Hall.