A ONE-WAY system has been implemented on a Lydiard Millicent Street to ease traffic congestion.

Temporary changes have been made to Hook Street to help reduce the large number of vehicles that have been using the road during the ongoing M4 Junction 16 improvement works.

The street, which links Whitehill Way in West Swindon to the village of Hook, now has a ‘No Entry’ restriction after the entrance to Lydiard Park.

The restriction means that vehicles travelling westbound towards Hook will not be able to proceed beyond the park and a no right turn restriction will also be in place at the park’s entrance, though access to Lydiard Park will be maintained throughout.

The 7.5-tonne restriction will also be extended to the junction of Whitehall Way.

Concerns were first raised over safety and congestion on Hook Street after Lower Hook Farm owner John Hicks contacted a Wiltshire councillor on Monday.

Heavy stones had been pushed off the 76-year-old's grass verge by impatient motorists who drove over the grass to overtake the gridlocked traffic and Councillor Mollie Groom passed on his complaints to the police and Swindon Borough Council.

With surprising speed, the new measure was agreed upon and put in place just a couple of days later, on Wednesday November 1.

The trial period will last until November 30.

It is hoped the changes introduced as part of the trial will significantly reduce the problems experienced by local residents and motorists.

Councillor Groom said: "Some residents were annoyed about the lack of consultation which took place before the measure was put in place and I can understand why.

"There needs to be more communication between councillors, the police and the public so that it's absolutely clear what is going on and residents are notified of any emergency action which is put in place.

"I've also made a notice for John's verge reminding people that the verge is private land."

John said: "Generally, the measure has helped, it's busy in the afternoons around rush hour but apart from that the traffic is fairly staggered."

Coun Mary Martin, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, said: “These changes will be monitored throughout this trial to see if improvements to traffic levels have been made.

“It is hoped that implementing these changes will help to ease some of the congestion which this road has faced as a result of the improvement works currently underway at Junction 16.”