RESIDENTS have called for a bypass to ease the high volume of traffic on a Royston road. People living in the Newmarket Road area of the town believe a bypass is the only long-term solution to continued flouting of speed and weight limits by drivers. Two

RESIDENTS have called for a bypass to ease the high volume of traffic on a Royston road.

People living in the Newmarket Road area of the town believe a bypass is the only long-term solution to continued flouting of speed and weight limits by drivers.

Two residents, John Heap and Joan Pryce, presented a petition to last week's meeting of North Herts district council's Royston area committee.

Mr Heap said: "Vehicles come down Newmarket Road at a dreadful speed. We're worried about people's safety and a by-pass is needed. The road is increasingly being used as a cut through to get from the A505 to the A10."

"The volume of traffic is increasing all the time," added Mrs Pryce. "A lot of large commercial vehicles come down there, and there are no 30mph signs in place to remind drivers they are entering a residential area.

As well as concerns about breaches of the speed and weight limit, and a request for a by-pass, a letter presented to the committee with the petition also outlines the increased level of noise created by the traffic.

"With more homes due to be built on the cinema site the traffic is only going to get worse," said Mrs Pryce.

Cllr F John Smith, who represents the Meridian ward, said: "A by-pass isn't likely to happen for a good many years, we need to look at smaller issues which can be solved locally.

"The speed limit has already been lowered in Newmarket Road from 40mph to 30mph, but it seems a lot of people are still using it in the old way."

And Cllr Fiona Hill, chairman of the area committee, said: "We must ensure a by-pass doesn't drop off the agenda, but we need some short term measures that can provide a quick fix."

Royston's town centre manager Geraint Burnell also spoke at the meeting, and warned that a by-pass would have "serious implications" for the health of the town centre.

District council community development officer Alan Fleck said he is working with environmental health officers with regards to the noise issues, while the police have been made aware of breaches of the speed and weight limit.

The request for a by-pass has been forwarded to the consultants producing the Royston Urban Transport plan.