Plans to lower speed limit at dangerous Wiltshire junction
Wiltshire Council has launched a public consultation on a proposal to lower the speed limit on the A360 and other surrounding roads at the Black Dog Crossroads between Potterne and West Lavington. The move comes as part of wider improvements to road safety at the junction, including the installation of traffic lights. The crossroads has been the site of many crashes over the years with campaigners labelling it dangerous and some drivers travelling miles to avoid it out of fear.
Now Wiltshire Council plans to reduce the 50mph speed limit on the A360 past the junction and the roads leading to it to 40mph. Other local roads in the area would also become 50mph zones under the proposal. 
A spokesperson for the council added: "In the interests of highway safety Wiltshire Council has proposed junction improvements to the A360 Black Dog Crossroads site, which includes a speed limit reduction to reduce the likelihood of incidents." Last year the council announced that traffic lights would be introduced to combat crashes at the junction under a GBP2 million road safety scheme funding upgrades across the county. Earlier this year Cllr Nick Holder, the cabinet member for highways, shared an email with this paper providing an update on this project.
At the time, it was expected that an electricity supply could be delivered at the junction this summer after an agreement was struck with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. This would allow the main construction phase of the project to begin in the autumn of 2025. Suggested reading
Campaigners like Michael Maxwell have long called for traffic lights to be installed at the junction. He previously told this paper he lives in fear that someone will be killed before the issues with the crossroads are resolved. Speaking at the time, he said: "I told them there would be a string of accidents at the junction and it is inevitable that there will continue to be.
"My fear is that a motorcyclist would be involved in a crash with a van, and they may not survive that."
Residents can comment on the proposed speed limit changes until May 12 by post, email, or via the Wiltshire Council website.