JUST a week after the Adver revealed a boundary shake-up, a village has found a unique way of making people aware they are entering its domain.

The parish council in Blunsdon, which under the new boundary plans would become the biggest ward in the town as it incorporates Highworth, has decided to erect gates welcoming drivers into the village.

But Blunsdon parish councillors are adamant that the gates will act purely as a speed deterrent rather than a boundary line between Blunsdon and Highworth.

Councillor Caroline Wilson, 48, of High Street, has been campaigning for several months for action to be taken to slow drivers using the B4019, travelling towards Cold Harbour.

She is delighted that the parish council, which will foot the bill for the gates, have been given the go-ahead by Swindon Council.

“I am very pleased to be able to bring something to the village that will hopefully make a difference,” she said.

“We just want to make this a nicer, safer village to live in for the residents.

“When traffic is travelling so fast it can be scary and it is such a straight road, people don’t often realise that they are coming in to a village, and there are houses and school children.

“Horses also use this road – I have ridden my horse down here before and it is terrifying.

“The gates are being installed in a bid to slow down traffic, nothing more.”

Although it is not yet known how much the gates will cost, they are set to be installed on either side of the B4019 near to Sams Lane within the next two months.

Coun Wilson said: “These gates have been installed in other villages and they have been proven to be a success. In Stanton Fitzwarren they were put up and taken down, and the drivers’ speed went up.

“Now they have put them up and it has been shown to have a really positive impact.

“It makes people more aware that they are coming in to a village – people often miss the 30mph signs, so we will have the speed signs on the gate, as well as a sign that simply says ‘Blunsdon – please drive carefully’.”

“The residents have been looking to us for a long time to come up with something reasonable and this is our first step in trying to warn drivers to take more care.”

The parish council is also asking residents for any other suggestions they may have in combating speeding drivers through their village.

Call the council on 01793 705617 or email contact@blunsdonparishcouncil.co.uk.