RESIDENTS have said they are pleased a ban on heavy goods vehicles could soon come into effect on a busy through road.

Homeowners living along Merlin Way have welcomed the news lorries and other large vehicles above 7.5 tonnes could be banned from travelling down the route after lobbying parish and ward councillors for action.

Now the experimental traffic order has gone out for consultation by the Highways Agency and could come into effect by October at the earliest.

Merlin Way resident Debbie Fitchett and her neighbours often did informal counts of the number of lorries going by and fellow resident , the Rev Trudie Wigley, said she often counted five or six HGVs in periods of just 15 minutes.

Trudie, a vicar at Christ Church, said: “Obviously we are pleased that this will be put in place.

“It has been a problem here for a long time – they come off the A419 and come down Merlin Way to Kingfisher Drive instead of going along Covingham Drive.

“We notice it more at night when the big lorries come by because the house shakes. “It is a residential area and clearly, they should not be coming down Merlin Way. “It’s not the speed that’s the problem but the frequency and the noise.

“Some people wanted a 3.5 tonne restriction but I think what has been decided with banning vehicles 7.5 tonnes and above is a good place to start.”

Coun Dale Heenan said the experimental order would quell residents’ concerns about the volume of heavy good vehicles.

He said: “Myself and Brian Osborn, from Covingham Parish Council, were aware of the issue along this road and residents have been fighting for many years, so I'm pleased we have managed to get something done.”

Signs will be put up by the mini-roundabout on Covingham Drive and Merlin Way and at the mini-roundabout on the junction of Merlin Way and Kingfisher Drive, with suggested alternative of the A312 or the B4006.

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: “This traffic order is undergoing the statutory consultation by the Highways Agency and could take some time for it to come into effect.

“It likely will not be enforceable until October and it would be in place for 18 months and then reviewed.”