FEARS have been raised that it will take someone being killed before action is taken to address a village's road network.

Market Lavington’s narrow roads mean pedestrians and drivers are often forced to pass by closely by each other.

Now, concerned residents have pleaded with Wiltshire Council to make changes to save lives.

More than 60 people have signed an e-petition calling for urgent change.

Chris Boaden, who lives on Church Street, said: “Some of our neighbours have been here 10 to 15 years and have had the same problems. It’s now an overdue issue. The weight of the traffic, in terms of signs and number of vehicles, seems to be higher in the last two years.”

This comes in part to the thinking that the village has now become a rat-run, or race track, for some drivers.

Mr Boaden added: “It’s an accident waiting to happen, and it feels like it will take a fatal accident for the issue to be taken seriously.”

In an open letter, Wiltshire Council has been accused of overlooking the village ‘through wilful disregard or inadvertent benign neglect’.

Market Lavington residents have suggested a variety of suggestions to combat road issues, including widening footpaths, creating safe crossing points and having bollards to form a barrier between pedestrians and passing cars.

This Is Wiltshire: Pedestrians often have to veer onto the roadPedestrians often have to veer onto the road

Forming part of the open letter to the council, Mr Boaden writes: “A key observation at this part of the road is that most vehicles’ side mirrors are at a child’s head-height and present a lethal hazard, as vehicles drive dangerously close to the footpath.

“There has already been an incident of an elderly resident being struck by a car side mirror since my family moved to the area, resulting in serious damage to their elbow.

“Eighteen months ago, Church Cottage on Church Street was damaged when a lorry and a tractor – both far too big for the road width – attempted to pass each other, resulting in the tractor crashing into the retaining wall and causing significant damage.”

This Is Wiltshire: The damage causedThe damage caused

When sent the letter Cllr Bridget Wayman, council cabinet member for highways, responded: “We are aware of the e-petition that has been submitted regarding the road network in Market Lavington and we have suggested to MR Boarden that he make contact with Lavington Parish Council to discuss his concerns.

"The Parish Council could then bring any suggestions for further schemes/work to the Community Area Transport Group (CATG) for consideration by the group for prioritisation.

“CATG has previously delivered a number of schemes for Market Lavington Parish Council, such as infrastructure for a Speed Indication Device and gateways at the commencement of the speed limits”.