MOTORISTS are being urged to make better use of a newly-opened bypass to help cut congestion and their own journey times.

The Southern Relief Road opened on December 14, running through Wichelstowe from Redposts Drive, off Wootton Bassett Road, to the bottom of Croft Road.

However, councillors from all three political parties say the route is under-used during rush hours, while traffic is backed-up through Old Town. They say many drivers are simply not aware of the new option to effectively bypass Old Town and want more people to investigate the option.

Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott), who initiated the campaign, said: “It’s a 3km road and I tend to see maybe two or three, sometimes four, cars when I travel the whole length of it, so there’s not very many.

“For many people, Old Town is the destination, but for people just passing through the bypass is a much quicker way to get around Old Town during rush hour. It’s a peaceful and quick drive.

“Since the changes to Whale-bridge, Old Town roads seem busier than ever.

“Roads like Lansdown Road are increasingly becoming a rat-run as people try to avoid queueing along roads like Bath Road. We are launching a campaign to encourage people to use the bypass to take pressure off Old Town roads.

“Most people I’ve spoken to don’t know the bypass is there, and it’s not fully signposted yet. The more people who find out about it the better for the environment, the better for Old Town and it’s quicker for drivers.”

Coun Wood said part of the lack of awareness was because the bpass was not on maps or sat navs yet, and those who know of it might not know where it was or what the benefits of using it were.

Brian Mattock (Con, Old Town and Lawn) said: “I, as a ward member, have been pressing for many months for the relief road to be opened so it will relieve Old Town of a great deal of traffic.

“And obviously the more people who use that to avoid going up to the centre of Old Town, the better.

“I have been surprised how few motorists have appreciated it’s opened, despite the fact it was publicised in the Adver and in other media, but people tend to get used to their method of transport and only gently drift into new communications lines. I would encourage people to use it to avoid being held up by going up into Old Town.”

Coun Derique Montaut (Lab, Central) said the bypass needed to be on maps and sat navs, and there also needs to be improved signage.

He said: “From what I understand of it, not enough people are using it and I would encourage them to use it to mitigate traffic flows and traffic congestion in other areas.

“There needs to be wider publicity and signage for it, and there will be a period before people understand the alternative options.”

ALL residential roads in Old Town will soon have 20mph speed limits following the completion of long-awaited works in the area.

Swindon Council approved the project after it gained public support in a consultation on how to spend approximately £100,000 worth of highways cash generated through the Angel Ridge development.

Most of the 13 streets south of Bath Road and west of Croft Road were made 20mph nearly two years ago, but three remained at 30pmh due to police safety fears.

Police said Springfield Road, Westlecot Road, and Mill Lane were too wide for the new limit to be effective – but they removed their objection after the council agreed to narrow the highway in some places.

This narrowing involves widening the footpath on a section of Springfield Road over the railway bridge, which will create a safer route to school for children at Commonweal and Lethbridge.

Coun Brian Mattock (Con, Old Town and Lawn), who co-ordinated the project, said: “This has been a project that came from the community that I promised we would deliver as long as it was technically possible and within the budget and that has proved to be the case on both points.

“And I will be delighted to see the whole of the area covered by that 20mph limit. I think it will bring much safer passage for children because of the additional footpaths, and will make it more pleasant and safer for pedestrians with vehicles travelling at a slower speed.

“And it recognises the residential nature of that part of Old Town.”

After securing the money from the developers of Angel Ridge, Swindon Council held consultation events three years ago to ask residents what their main highways issues and priorities were.

Coun Mattock said there was overwhelming concern about the speed of traffic so officers drew up the 20mph scheme, which was supported at subsequent consultation events.

The second phase of the project started last week and is expected to last about four or five weeks.

The work also involves erecting signs periodically and painting red 20mph markings on the highway.

Barbara Wellicome, who lives in Springfield Road opposite to the new footpath over the railway bridge, said she supported the scheme but was concerned whether it would actually slow traffic.

“People who won’t stick to 30mph won’t stick to 20mph. Really it’s down to people’s common sense but I would hope it will be beneficial,” she said.

She also raised concerns footpath widening might make it harder for buses to pass each other and for her to get into her own driveway.

‘PYSCHOLOGICALLY IT FELT BETTER. I WAS MOVING’

REPORTER Scott D’Arcy avoids his usual route into Old Town and takes the less-travelled Southern Relief road through Wichelstowe...

THERE’S nothing more frustrating for commuters than being in a hurry and getting nowhere.

But travelling along the desolate road through what will eventually become Wichelstowe, means drivers can bypass the queues and get from the west of the town to the centre with few hold ups.

After surviving the perils of a Mannington roundabout without any traffic signals, I turned off Wootton Bassett Road and took the new bypass in a bid to avoid the usual crawl up Kingshill and along Bath Road.

I have wasted hours sitting in gridlock on Bath Road every morning, made even more frustrating by the fact I know I could get out of the car and walk to the Adver office in Victoria, arriving a good ten minutes quicker than I otherwise do.

I was aware of the new road, which caused a bit of a stir before it opened for having its street lights on, and hearing it was like a ghost town I thought I should try it out and see if it saved me any time.

The route is longer as the crow flies – but it didn’t matter.

There were no hold-ups and I was cruising along at 40mph so psychologically I was winning the race just because I was moving.

Well, that was until I hit Croft Road, of course, and had to join the queue of traffic snaking its way back towards Wroughton.

Another slow climb up the hill towards Old Town and then out onto a blocked up Drove Road.

But I was quicker than usual – taking a little more than 16 minutes to get from Mannington to the office instead of the usual 20.

As a test my colleague Matt drove my normal route yesterday and, annoyingly, he took just 13 minutes between Mannington and Victoria Road, which must be a record for that time of day.

It usually takes me almost twice as long.

OLD TOWN ROADS

Roads to have 20mph limit: Westlecot Road

Springfield Road

Mill Lane

Roads already with a 20mph limit: Avenue Road Ripley Road Bradford Road Grovelands Avenue Belmont Crescent Goddard Avenue The Mall Roman Crescent Quarry Road Field Rise