RESIDENTS living on a busy main road have called on the police and Swindon Council to take action to stop speeding drivers who they claim have made their lives a nightmare.

Passing traffic, including a constant stream of huge heavy good vehicles, has been driving residents of Gipsy Lane mad for about five years.

Neil Edwards, 43, has lobbied the council and the police to take action and said he hoped proposed changes to the road layout, including narrowing the carriageway and adding road markings, might make a difference.

The father-of-three said: “It’s an absolute nightmare and I’ve been speaking to my neighbours who are all having similar problems.

“We are suffering sleep deprivation as it is 24 hours a day. Some HGVs are travelling 40mph, which does not sound much over the limit, but when you are talking about 44-ton trucks – they are shaking the foundations of the houses.

“I knew about the problem when I moved in, but I’ve got the dream house with a back garden for the grandchildren.

“My wife has talked about moving and I feel like we may be forced out.

“I hope the police checks and the council making changes to the road will make a difference.

“I think that what is being proposed will slow them down slightly.”

Gorse Hill beat manager PC Stacey McGarry said officers would be carrying out random speed gun checks and fining motorists who break the speed limit of 30mph.

She said: “We have had a number of complaints from residents and we will be stepping up patrols in the area.

“We will be taking a speed gun out there and doing checks at random times – we will be looking to prosecute speeders.”

A council spokesman said: “We have been looking at ways of changing the path of vehicles passing through the roundabout near Enter-prise Works after residents’ raised concerns about vibrations from heavy goods vehicles using the road.

“We conducted a trial using water-filled roadwork barriers, but found this would be too expensive as a long-term solution.

“And there was concern about the safety of cyclists passing through the narrow barrier section of road.

“Officers are now drawing up plans to alter the road markings at the roundabout to ensure vehicles avoid the areas that appear to be the cause of the vibrations.

“We are also looking to convert the kerbed traffic islands on the west and east side of the roundabout into pedestrian refuges in response to requests from employees at the nearby Enterprise Works.

“The work will involve widening the islands and the resulting narrowing of the carriageway is expected to result in some reduction in the speed of goods vehicles.”