NEIGHBOURS in Stratton fear the Moonrakers renovation turned their street into a rat run.

But the council says it is looking into ways to slow down or divert drivers from the area, and expects traffic to reduce.

This has been an issue in the Queensfield estate long before the major work to transform the busy Cricklade Road junction began 18 months ago. But during more than a year of road closures and diversions, people living in the estate say they saw more cars from further afield speed through the streets than ever before to use it as a shortcut to avoid the Moonrakers.

After the work finished and the junction reopened with the old mini-roundabouts replaced by new traffic lights, the Upper Stratton neighbours expected traffic levels on their residential streets to calm down a little - but this has not happened.

Coun Claire Crilly said: "As a residential area, this is not designed for the volume and speed of through traffic, and these are a nuisance and hazard to the people who live there.

"This happens at all times of day but is worse at rush hour and around school drop-off times.

"As well as increased traffic during the roadworks, residents had to contend with queuing cars and vans and the increase in pollution when CityFibre were allowed to carry out work alongside that at the Moonrakers.

"The problem may have been reduced by the Moonrakers re-opening fully to traffic, but residents sense this is not the case.

"Amazon Prime delivery vans now seem to be using the route extensively, since they started using the former Groundwell park and ride site as a base."

Coun Crilly will present a petition to the council's cabinet member for transport Coun Kevin Parry which has been signed by Queensfield citizens and urges Swindon Borough Council to ensure the street is no longer used as a rat run.

It asks that, now that the Moonrakers roadworks are completed, the council should look again at all potential traffic measures.

Coun Crilly added: "This is needed to improve the lives of residents of Queensfield by reducing in the volume of traffic, which in turn will reduce the amount of car emissions, improve air quality throughout the estate.

"This will also make the roads in Queensfield safer for residents."

Coun Oladapo Ibitoye said: “I completely understand that residents will have experienced disruption as a result of the improvements being made to the Moonrakers junction.

"But I have spoken with the cabinet member for highways and have been told that we would expect the volume of traffic using Queensfield to reduce over time as more drivers get used to the new road layout.

"I am already working with him on this issue and an ‘aftermath impact’ of traffic on Moonrakers Junction on Queensfield is currently in the planning.

"Coun Dan Smith and I have consulted with officers during our ward briefings with the council’s highways team. We have canvassed resident’s opinions since the completion of the works, and have proposed ideas with officers that can be taken forward.

"We have been in discussion with the new tenant of the park-and-ride to look at the best solution to resolve the impact of opening up the park and to see what can be done to discourage their drivers from using the cut through.

"I am not convinced a petition is the right course of action, as we really need to find a proposal that has the support of local residents as quickly as possible.

"We have raised with SBC, the idea of a 20mph zone for Queensfield and will be reaching out to the community to seek their support and explore in more depth both rat running and road safety."