After months of being closed for vital repair work to stabilise the southbound embankment, the A36 at Limpley Stoke reopened at the weekend.
Residents in the middle of the A36 at Limpley Stoke | Photo provided
It may have been welcome news for motorists who have been having to divert since August, but people living in the village say it is “lethal” and have started a petition calling for a safe crossing.
Limpley Stoke, which falls within Wiltshire, is cut in half by the busy A36, one of the main routes into Bath from the south.
Local resident Fliss Childs said: “An increasing number of families have moved into Upper Limpley in recent years, many with young children.
“We have no choice but to cross this busy road to take our children to school or for older children to catch the bus and train.
“Around 20 children are risking their lives every day. Will it take a death before we have a safe crossing here? We aren’t willing to wait for that.”
It’s not just parents and children who have to dodge the large volume of cars and lorries; many of residents of Midford Lane are pensioners and fear walking to pick up their prescriptions or to use the local shop.
Crossing the A36 at Limpley Stoke | Photo provided
The speed limit on this section of the A36 is 40mph and while this has been reduced to 30mph in the nearby villages of Bathampton and Woolverton, it isn’t the case at Limpley Stoke.
Sara-Jane Socha, a Limpley Stoke parish councillor, said: “I find walking across the road terrifying. What we want is a safe crossing for schoolchildren, families and residents. Cars and lorries drive far too fast along this section of the road.
“Upper Limpley residents have been campaigning since 2012 and we don’t understand why the speed limit can be reduced in other residential areas but not here.
“We are lobbying our local MPs, district councillors and National Highways to try to get something done as soon as possible.”
The petition – https://change.org/A36_PedestrianCrossing – is addressed to Nick Harris, chief executive of National Highways, and Lilian Greenwood, Minister for the Future of Roads.
It says: “Every morning, our children, alongside numerous other local families, face an alarming level of danger while attempting to cross the A36 to get to school.
“This perilous journey is a reality for many families in our community, causing both worry and fear every day. It’s noteworthy that the Department for Transport reports that in 2024 there were 19,092 pedestrian casualties and 392 pedestrian fatalities on UK roads in Great Britain.
“We do not want any child or resident in Limpley Stoke to be among this number, simply for going to school or their village shop.
“Unfortunately, however, our community isn’t exempt from this alarming statistic. Multiple road traffic incidents over the past few years indicate that a lack of a suitable pedestrian crossing on the A36 needs to be addressed urgently.
“The introduction of a safe, secure crossing would reduce the risk posed to our children immensely and alleviate parents’ anxiety.
“This not only ensures their safety but also fosters independence and encourages students to walk to school. Our children’s safety and wellbeing are paramount, and no parent should fear for their child’s safety when going to school.
“To those in authority, we urge you to act in the best interest of our young people and all local residents by introducing a safe pedestrian crossing on the A36.”
So far the petition has almost 400 signatures.
It is understood that the location on this stretch of the A36 is tricky due to the alignment of the road.
To provide adequate intervisibility between people needing to cross the road and drivers, a crossing would need to be south of Midford Lane.
A crossing with a central refuge could cost in the region of £500,000.
