SCHOOLCHILDREN and villagers crossing the A4361 between Wroughton and Avebury are in mortal danger from speeding cars and lorries, say parish councillors.

They are upping a campaign to slash the speed limit from 60mph to 30mph following a string of accidents including a fatal car crash in Winterbourne Monkton. Children have to cross the road to catch the school bus, while walkers and villagers cross the road dodging the heavy traffic. “People are in mortal danger,” said Coun Gary Higgins. “We have two very dangerous junctions leading out of the village. Cars coming from each direction will overtake at these junctions. There’s also a very dangerous dip as you go towards Berwick Bassett with hidden bends. It is appalling that no-one takes any notice.”

Winterbourne Monkton parish chairman Jill Petchy said three people had died on the stretch of road and there were innumerable near misses. Last month there was a fatal accident in the village when a local man died on a bend near the crossroads. “We also had two motorcyclists killed in a head-on collision. It is speed but also road markings. People overtake travelling south, when there is a turning where a head-on collision could happen. People have to walk along the road to Avebury while people cross the road from the Ridgeway, and visitors don’t realise how dangerous the road is.”

Cllr Neil Kirk said: “The speed of the traffic is faster than the 1950s when the road coped but it is the volume now that is an issue.

“My children have had to cross the road to catch the school bus in the dark, with cars coming at 60mph or faster through the village.

“You have four seconds to spot a vehicle coming at you at the crossroads in order to join the traffic at the same speed of the traffic. We don’t all have sports cars.”

The speed limit must be changed, said Cllr Lyn Bennett-Nutt, who said something had to happen before another person was killed.

Locals are also worried about increased traffic due to new homes being built and businesses expanding in the village with heavy lorries passing through.

Cllr Petchy said the parish council were advised by Highways that any changes to the speed limit would require a traffic survey, which would be prohibitively expensive. The last survey was five years ago and was done at a quiet time, she said.

The hope is for a pavement through the village to Avebury with room for cycles, to get people off the main road where the speed limit is 60mph.