Campaigners are angry at a highways official who they claim tried to blame residents for causing the traffic problems in Starkholmes.
Around 300 people packed into St Giles' School, to discuss traffic issues with Derbyshire County Council officers and urge them to take action at an accident blackspot.
But residents said they were angered by the response from Neil Hickman, the co
uncil's senior highways officer.
In his defence the authority has said it never intended to give the impression residents were to blame for traffic problems.
Town councillor and resident Ian Milne said: "The officer was a bit negative and tried to blame everything on the local people living in Starkholmes.
"He said most of the traffic was generated in Starkholmes which does not make sense because if that was the case there wouldn't be any difference now."
He added: "He was shouted down. We didn't accept that. We just felt they didn't want to do anything about the problem."
Residents at the meeting, organised by Starkholmes Traffic Action Group (STAG), claim that since Matlock bridge was made one-way, drivers have been using the route through the village as a 'rat-run'. They want to see traffic-calming measures in place.
Sainsbury's supermarket chief executive Justin King has also added his weight to the campaign and the store has donated cash to help deal with traffic problems caused by the Cawdor Quarry development.
Cllr Milne said: "Justin King has accepted there has been a great increase in traffic in Starkholmes and he expects something to be done about it which means more pressure on the county council."
He added: "The number of people at the meeting showed the depth of concern and the anger at the fact nothing has been done for years despite the situation getting worse."
Members of Matlock Safer Neighbourhood Team have also pledged support for the residents' campaign.
PC Jon Bewley said officers were exploring several ideas, including a community speed watch which would see local volunteers armed with speed guns.
He added: "It is fair to say we have noticed a problem in Starkholmes. It has certainly got busier without a doubt and the road is not really designed for that volume of traffic."
A spokeswoman for the council said: "We never intended to give the impression that any traffic problems in Starkholmes were caused by residents.
"We're currently looking at what traffic-calming measures, if any, might be appropriate for Starkholmes.
"In the meantime, residents who reduce their speed while driving through the village will help to reduce the speeds of other traffic on the route."
