Swindon Borough Council has confirmed that a new 20mph speed limit covering a cluster of streets in South Marston will come into force on 1 September. The authority’s highways team will complete road markings, signage and additional buildouts during August, carrying out the work under traffic management rather than extended road closures.
What the works involve
Council contractors will be installing the remaining physical features and painting roundels on the carriageway throughout August. To keep disruption to a minimum, the majority of the works will use stop-and-go traffic control instead of full or long-term closures.
“I’m very pleased to see these works finally progress, and as promised during the elections, I will then begin working with SBC Highways on extending the zone through The Bends on Highworth Road, as was repeatedly requested by residents in that area through the election period and most recent Have Your Say event in the village hall.”
The comment above was made by Cllr Matthew Vallender, the local ward councillor and Cabinet member with responsibility for Culture, Planning and Regeneration, who has been liaising with highways officers and developers to ensure construction can be completed without a second closure of Old Vicarage Lane.
Roads affected and local context
The scheme will reduce speed limits on more than a dozen roads in the South Marston area. Official council papers submitted earlier in the year indicate the measures are intended to reduce the likelihood of collisions and limit the severity of injuries if collisions do occur.
- Work to install buildouts and road markings will take place during August.
- The 20mph limit becomes effective from 1 September.
- Where possible, the council is completing buildouts under an existing closure to avoid an additional closure of Old Vicarage Lane.
Among the streets listed in council material and referenced locally are Old Vicarage Road, Nightingale Lane, Thornhill Road, Highworth Road, Ash Gardens, Bell Gardens, Bryon Court, Chapel Lane and Manor — though the document is recorded as continuing beyond the extract available locally.
| Key date | Action |
|---|---|
| August | Installation of buildouts, painting roundels and erection of signage; works primarily using stop-and-go traffic management |
| 1 September | 20mph speed limit comes into effect |
What residents should expect
Motorists should anticipate short delays where stop-and-go controls are in place during the installation phase. The council and local councillors have sought to co-ordinate works with developers to keep additional closures to a minimum.
The introduction of a lower speed limit follows months of planning and public consultation in some parts of the borough and forms part of the council’s wider approach to road safety. Councillors have indicated that further requests from residents — including extending the limit through sections known locally as The Bends on Highworth Road — will be examined once the current tranche of measures has been implemented.
For motorists and residents seeking specific details about closures, traffic management or the full list of streets included in the order, the council’s highways service remains the appropriate point of contact.
