The roads through Avebury World Heritage Site are dangerously unsafe, with increasing volumes of traffic, high-speed limits, poor road signage, no traffic calming and many large vehicles that are too big to traverse the roads.  Making this sacred and significant place a hazard to all!

Every day, residents and tourists face a perilous journey along the roads that traverse the Avebury World Heritage Complex in Wiltshire, UK. My own son has been a victim of this road and was run over in an RTA, whilst walking to the bus stop in Avebury, on his way to school along the A4361. The roads in the complex are infamous for speeding traffic, overtaking, lack of pavements and inadequate road signage.  

The A4361 slices directly through the iconic stone circle, presenting a continuous risk to its users, and pedestrians, many of whom are tourists and not familiar with the UK roads, traffic driving on the right-hand side, or the speed of that traffic. The narrow roads struggle to accommodate large vehicles such as articulated lorries, buses and coaches, especially as there are several right-angled bends where they have to cross the carriageway to get round. The traffic speed limits are too high with many sections being set to the national speed limit of 60mph. The road is turning this UNESCO World Heritage site into a dangerous accident hot spot, where residents and tourists’ lives are in danger, especially as the only way to get around the village for pedestrians is to use the road and either walk along the edge of it and have to cross it frequently!

In 2015 the Atkins Report “The Avebury World Heritage Site Transport Strategy” put forward many Road Calming and Safety Measures which have not been implemented, this was updated in 2019, and has been followed up by the "West Kennet Traffic Plan" with the support of the Wiltshire Police Highways Expert.  In line with these reports, Avebury Parish Council and the Avebury Traffic group we demand the issues are addressed.

Immediate issues

A4361

• Required double white lines from Beckhampton to Winterbourne Monkton to prevent overtaking accidents and enable residents to turn into their driveways safely.
• Reduction of the speed limit and extension of the 30pmh zone.
   Better signage at road crossing points and for the speed limits
• Verge gates at the edge of the Avebury complex indicating you are entering a village 

A4 

• Lowering of the speed limit to 40mph at West Kennet, between Silbury Hill and the Burj restaurant, again with warnings where pedestrians frequently cross the road

Avebury Trusloe

• Speed reduction in the village to 30mph (this is currently set at 50mph)

Avebury village centre (including the A3461 section of road)

• Speed reduction to 20mph
• Re-introduction of road signage for pedestrian crossing points, sharp bends, and other road dangers

To follow:

• Narrowing of the A4 in West Kennett to enable emergency service vehicles, school buses, delivery vehicles to be able to stop by residential housing on this stretch of road.
• At the entrance to Avebury the introduction of chicanes to slow vehicles as they enter the village 
   

Further detail and reading

There are many accidents along the road, due to:

• the increased volume of vehicles which has doubled in the past 20 years
  overtaking in the 60mph sections is common and causes many accidents - the most recent taking place on 23rd July 25, two weeks prior to this petition going live which involved 3 cars that all ended up in the field due to a poor overtaking manoeuvre.
• overtaking of residents cars in the 60 mph zones when they are turning into driveways
• visitors to the Avebury complex who often are distracted by the henge and do not concentrate often pull over in unsuitable locations to take pictures, or are unsure of where to go and drive erratically
• lack of signage, for hazards such as sharp bends, road crossing points and speed limits
• cars park on double yellow lines or in dangerous locations or on the verge
• lack of pavements forcing pedestrians to walk on the narrow carriageway. 

The road safety issues extend beyond the A4361. The A4 stretch at West Kennett, running between Beckhampton and the Ridgeway, is a dangerous stretch of road as it has a 60mph speed limit and in the past two years alone has witnessed two fatal RTAs. This section of road is one where there are several popular crossing points providing access to the Ridgeway, The Sanctuary, West Kennet Long Barrow, and Silbury Hill, it has a couple of blind summits which again add to the danger for all road users. There is no speed reduction for the crossing points, no warning to traffic that pedestrians will be crossing the road. We urge immediate action to introduce effective traffic calming measures, clear and sufficient signage, and a reassessment of speed limits in these hazardous zones. The introduction of pavements would also provide a safer passage for pedestrians, encouraging both locals and tourists to explore the historic site without fear.



On the approach to Avebury, we feel the most effective way to slow traffic is to introduce chicanes to reduce the traffic flow, as they have in Laycock, and Chiseldon villages nearby. Further, having solid white lines on the roads will discourage much traffic from overtaking, which has caused several of the recent serious accidents in the village and often happens when residents attempt to turn into their driveways. On the A4 narrowing of the road would slow traffic and provide space for emergency vehicles to stop. 



The Avebury complex should be a peaceful and joyous place to visit, work, or live. We should not be worried about making a trip to the shop, crossing the road, enjoying the scenery and ancient monuments. The unique cultural significance and beauty of the Avebury World Heritage Site deserve roads that are fitting with the Avebury complex and protect it, its visitors and inhabitants. Let's ensure that future generations can safely enjoy this historic wonder. 

Please, sign this petition to demand safer roads in the Avebury World Heritage Complex. Together, we can make a change for the safety of all.