Villagers Call for Speed Limits
Evening Advertiser
3rd May 2000
www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk
38-tonne lorry crash highlights dangers of the hill. Dauntsey Lock residents are calling for a speed limit through their village in a bid to stop cars and trucks careering off a steep hill.

Their call for action comes in the wake of yesterday's truck incident on the hill near the village in which a 38-tonne lorry laden with rubble overturned on a bend and was halted in its path by a tree. The accident happened at about 6am as the Churngold truck headed up the hill on the B4069 at Lyneham Banks.

On reaching a sharp bend it overturned into a field on the side of the road and began to roll down the bank before coming to rest against a sturdy oak. Police and firefighters were called to the incident shortly after 6am but the truck driver was found to be unhurt.

Now Dauntsey Lock's residents' association is stepping up its campaign to get a speed limit in place through the village at the bottom of the hill. They say theirs is the only village, which comprises more than 20 houses, between Lyneham and Chippenham not to have a speed limit. It is hoped the limit will stop vehicles speeding up over the narrow humpbacked bridge at the bottom of the hill before heading up the steep and windy hill which is believed to be just under one mile long.

Airline stewardess Marie-Louise Hill, of Canal Cottages, Dauntsey Lock, said yesterday's accident was inevitable due to the lack of a speed limit and state of the road. Marie-Louise, 32, said: This was an accident waiting to happen. Vehicles come screaming up and down the hill and it's a wonder no one in the village has been knocked down. We desperately need a speed limit, especially as this latest accident is the third to happen in as many weeks. We just have this feeling the police aren't going to do anything until someone gets hurt and, frankly, we don't want to wait that long. The truck was due to be removed at 9.45am today.