Chippenham town councillor Bill Douglas said he is feeling positive that Hardenhuish Lane will soon be safer for school children.

Last month the Gazette launched a campaign to introduce road safety measures following the death of 11-year-old Sam Odell.

Coun Douglas, who backed our campaign, said he presented his argument to the Local Transport Plan Working Party on Tuesday evening following lengthy consultation with schools, members of the public and the Odell family.

Around 15,000 members of the local community are in support of making the road safer and Coun Douglas and a group of volunteers consulted with Chippenham residents on the matter for six weeks.

He said: "The case for more traffic calming measures in that area was presented forcefully at the meeting.

"The county officers, who are the main decision makers, said that they will take the results of the consultation, together with the coroner's report and police findings and consult county council engineers and planners to see what can be done."

The consensus of campaigners is to ask for a reactive flashing road sign at the top of the hill, which would be time controlled.

Residents also want three speed bumps placed along the road.

The Local Transport Plan Working Party make recommendations for changes to the road.

He said: "I am feeling very positive that something will be done soon."

However, he said that if something was not done soon he would be pressing them for answers.

He said: "I emphasised in the meeting that we do not want this matter to be put back to the 2007/2008 budget.

"We should press for additional money as there are funds that can be provided in cases where the full community is calling for something.

"In this case it can be done."

The councillor said that there were around 25 people at the meeting from all levels of local authority, and he said that everyone was very much in agreement with his cause.

He said: "I have told Sam Odell's family and they are very pleased that it looks as if something is going to be done.

"They are very grateful to us and the Gazette and Herald for all the campaigning to make the area safer."

Coun Douglas added: "Although I was not given a date regarding a decision, hopefully it will be as soon as possible."