Durrington Cemetery and Car Park which is split in two by the A345..
The dangers of poor visibility, wet weather during the winter months, and widespread public concern regarding access to Durrington Cemetery have prompted this report, which sets out both the historical background and the present situation. Durrington Cemetery was established over 120 years ago at a time when there was little to no vehicular traffic along the route now known as the A345. With the rise in car use, a car park was later provided by the Parish Council through a lease with the Ministry of Defence. This car park was sited on the west side of the A345; at that time, traffic levels were much lower, so safety did not pose a significant issue. Over the past twenty years however, traffic volumes have increased dramatically which has made access to Durrington Cemetery more difficult, particularly for those with limited mobility. To cross from the car park and footpath to the cemetery entrance, visitors now require good vision, patience, and the ability to cross the busy A345 quickly and safely.
Actions that I have taken:
Two applications to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph were submitted to Wiltshire Council but both were rejected. The reasoning was that this stretch of the A345 is considered very rural and the Council felt a lower speed limit would not influence driver behaviour. The most recent speed check, conducted in 2024, recorded an average speed at the crossing point of just over 40mph, which unfortunately means that Speed Watch or Speed Indication Devices cannot be deployed here.
The footpath on the west side of the A345 has been significantly improved and resurfaced, a change that has been welcomed by the local community.
New signage has been installed warning of ‘Pedestrians Crossing 150m Ahead’ to alert approaching drivers. Additional signage for the cemetery car park has been put in place to highlight to drivers that vehicles may be exiting.
Two electronic auto SLOW speed signs were deployed heading northbound, set to activate at 35mph. These proved ineffective, as over 90 per cent of vehicles triggered the signs, showing little inclination to reduce speed.
Recommendations to Wiltshire Council for the introduction of a zebra crossing or a pedestrian-controlled crossing were denied. The Council stated that such crossings can only be installed where pedestrian visibility for both drivers and pedestrians is good and giving pedestrians confidence that traffic would stop. The increased risk is unacceptable especially given that the crossing point is situated on the brow of a hill.
Further Steps to Consider
Re-examine the possibility of reducing the speed limit to 30mph, as new rules and criteria coming into effect in 2026 may make this achievable. A lower speed limit could also allow for the deployment of Speed Watch and Speed Indicator Devices.
Undertake more severe cutting back of the roadside hedges on the west side of the car park, especially for traffic heading north, and also those adjacent to the cemetery. This would improve visibility for drivers travelling south and increase their awareness.
Explore any opportunities for providing parking on the east side of the A345.
If you have any other ideas, please contact me. 07788849165
For more detail, please view my video report below
Cllr Graham Wright, Working for Durrington
Stay informed at
