CONCERN over pedestrian safety was the talking point at a residents meeting looking at proposals for a new bus corridor from Wichelstowe to the town centre.

Organised by the Piper’s Area Residents Association, Old Town residents were able to quiz council officials about the plans that aim to reduce the time taken for each bus journey from the current 22 minutes to between 10 and 12 minutes.

Expected to cost up to £3.28m, the proposals will be funded through a mixture of Local Enterprise Partnership money and contributions from housing developers.

To achieve the reduction in journey time, council traffic planners are proposing to remove three traffic light controlled crossings.

They will be replaced by more free-flowing ‘shared space’ arrangements like that on the road outside Regent Circus.

The crossings in question are on Victoria Road near to the junction with Bath Road, on Devizes Road outside the Los Gatos restaurant and on the High Street between the Co-Op and the Locarno. The proposals would also see Wood Street open to buses.

While the third consultation round closed on Wednesday, residents were still able to have their say, including Rosemarie Phillips who attended the meeting to represent visually impaired people.

“The plans would make it virtually impossible to cross the road in Old Town and what we are hoping is that the signalled crossing will remain,” she said.

“The one outside the Co-op needs to stay because there is a corner there, so otherwise it would be so dangerous.”

Another resident said: “My problem is that I have a six-year-old and a four-year-old who I am having to teach how to cross the road properly. Children crossing is an issue with this scheme because they won’t be able to perceive the speed of the cars and when it is safe to cross.

“There are a number of Commonweal students playing chicken already with the crossings and I think it is just a ludicrous idea to have a shared space with so many children and older people.”

Residents were told by the council how they had adjusted their plans based on the feedback received and hoped the scheme would make Old Town a destination for visitors.

The council say more details of the plans will be outlined later in the year.

To find out more, visit www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk