SAFETY concerns around the shared-space crossing on Regent Circus will not be answered yet because an independent safety audit has been delayed.

The news comes after the Adver launched a campaign this week to reduce speeds on Commercial Road in light of higher footfall and safety issues in the area.


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It had been expected that a full review of the scheme at Regent Circus, where a woman was knocked down in August, would take place after Morrisons supermarket opened but contractors have asked that it wait until the entire site is up and running.

Coun Dale Heenan, cabinet member for highways, said: “I have consistently said that the safety audit must be independent of Swindon Borough Council, and independent of the developer of Regent Circus. We all want to ensure a safe crossing and the council has chased the developer several times so the audit can go ahead.

“As I understand it the contractors, ISG, are delaying things because while Morrisons is now open, the contractor still has work left to finish and the audit can only take place when their work has been completed.

“Highways have been trying to get the likely site availability off them for several weeks with no joy."

Coun Dave Wood, (Lib Dem, Eastcott), said he is disappointed the audit will not go ahead for some months but supports new measures for Commercial Road.

He said: “We were expecting that the safety audit would take place within a couple of weeks of the Morrisons on Regent Circus opening.

“That happened last week, but I have now heard indirectly that they will wait until the whole site is open, which is not what was proposed and agreed at the public meeting, and will take us at the very earliest into February or March next year.

“This has very serious implications for public safety.

“There has been pressure from the public because it is a safety concern from the moment that the site is open.

“For each week we do not have a safe crossing more people are going to be put at risk.

“There are a lot of older people in that area, and people who walk to do their shopping do not feel safe.

“I am aware, and we have had comments, that this is not such a huge issue for those who are young and able-bodied, and the crossing does look quite nice.

“Something I have tried to push for in the past is a 20mph zone throughout the town centre. It is something which may help bring down speeds and, Commercial Road being quite wide, there is that inevitability there will be a lot of speeding and some accidents may happen.

“If Commercial Road was to be made two-way and parking introduced to the street, then that would generally create an environment where traffic is a lot slower.”