£350million investment for A350 improvement works

MAJOR improvements to the A350 through Melksham have been given the green light by the Government.

The A350 has been chosen to receive capacity and safety improvement works as part of a £350million scheme to improve local roads and public transport across the country.

The Farmers Roundabout, near Asda, will see new traffic signals, resurfacing and lighting column removals with additional merge taper improvements at Semington Roundabout.

The scheme will cost £2.99million, with £2.49million being funded by the Department for Transport. This will be one of 76 projects from across the country to bring key benefits to local road users.

Michelle Donelan, MP for the area said, “This is fantastic news for people who live and work in Melksham and the surrounding areas. It will also support the growth of the town and encourage more visitors.

“I have been pushing the case for this investment for years and am delighted that the Government has listened.

“Improving our local road network is vital. I have always said that development must come with the infrastructure to cope. We will see a real ease in congestion and a boost for the economy, which will lead to more local jobs.”

But not everyone is happy. Local councillor Terry Chivers says more traffic lights will cause long tail backs.

“Anyone who knows this busy roundabout, knows only too well that lights on the Wiltshire Farmers Roundabout will do nothing but cause delays on the busy road, and cause long tail backs,” he says. “The scheme is alleged to cost a total of £2.9million; if we are to have improvements, the only answer is to upgrade the A350 from Chippenham to Poole, which should include an eastern bypass for Melksham and other small towns along the route.”

For more information visit: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-invests-350-    million-improving-local-roads