Traffic lights installed at accident blackspot

Work to make a notorious rural junction safer has been completed, in what a campaigner has branded as "wonderful" news.

Michael Maxwell has spent six years campaigning for changes at the A360 Black Dog crossroads near Devizes in Wiltshire, which has been the site of a number of accidents.

Wiltshire Council has finished a four-month project to install traffic lights, introduce a lower speed limit and improve road markings at the crossroads.

"It's wonderful news," said Maxwell. "I pushed this for so long because people were getting hurt and it felt like people weren't taking that seriously. That began to irritate me, and I wanted to do something."

As part of his campaign, Maxwell held protests at local supermarkets, met with councillors and created a mascot called 'The Scream' from car parts.

The mascot, which included a homemade traffic light to symbolise his hope for the road, was in place near the crossroads but has since been moved.

"It's gone into my back garden now," said Maxwell, who lives in Littleton Panell. "It was in the front garden, but my neighbours said it was a little macabre."

The council's revamp of the Black Dog crossroads began on 20 October. It followed earlier work to install an electricity supply for the traffic lights.

Maxwell hopes cars needing to come to a complete stop will mean accidents will reduce, "unless people break the law and jump a red light".

Wiltshire Council has said it plans to monitor the junction following the changes and will "make any adjustments as necessary" to ensure it "continues to operate safely and effectively".

Martin Smith, the council's cabinet member for highways, said: "We're delighted to mark the completion of this important project on the A360 at Black Dog crossroads.

"I want to thank everyone for their patience during the work, and we hope people agree that the long‑term benefits will make this junction significantly safer for all."

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