TRAFFIC calming measures are “essential” to improve safety along a “rat run” road in Alderholt, villagers have said.

Dozens of residents have signed a petition calling on Dorset County Council to carry out traffic monitoring in Sandleheath Road saying that it was being increasingly used by commuters driving to and from Salisbury.

Organised by Lisa Fitz-Gerald, it says: “The speed limit is currently set at 30mph but this limit is ignored by most car drivers.

“The road is used as a rat run to and from Salisbury and has become extremely dangerous.

“There are no footpaths, many bends, road narrowings and concealed entrances.

“We believe that it is now essential that traffic calming measures are put in to slow the traffic down.”

The petitions panel will consider whether to take any actions as a result of the petition at its meeting on Tuesday.

However, a report to the committee says that traffic calming measures are normally not installed in rural areas, particularly in places without and lighting.

It says: “Physical calming measures are more common in urban areas.

“One reason for this is street lighting is often deemed to be required.

“An additional reason is linked to the nature of use of the route.

“Non-motorised traffic use is much more common in urban areas and traffic flow generally highers which improves the effectiveness of the calming features.

“Physical calming measures such as chicanes or narrowings are typically installed in areas where there is a history of road traffic collisions linked to a general poor level of adherence to the speed limit.”

However, data recorded by police shows there were no crashes reported between June 2013 and May 2018.The last survey of traffic in Sandleheath Road was carried out in 2002 and the report says its findings cannot be relied upon when it comes to making a decision on whether to take any action in response to the petition.