MELKSHAM could be on track to get a multi-million pound bypass as Wiltshire Council looks to improve the A350 as the main road through the county.
The new bypass would cost over £30million to build and, although plans are still in their infancy, Wiltshire Council is looking to bid for funding from the Government.
The most likely route is to the east of Melksham around Beanacre and Melksham Forest to link with the existing roads near Bowerhill but no plans have yet been finalised. And if plans do go ahead, the bypass is not expected to be up and running for at least ten years.
Mayor of Melksham, councillor Terri Welch, welcomed the idea and is confident local people will agree.
Wiltshire County councillor and cabinet member for highways, Philip Whitehead, told Melksham Independent News that improving the route in the town is inevitable, but is not going to happen soon.
He said, “This is not a project at the moment. We don’t have a design or a budget, but Wiltshire Council will be bidding for money from the Government to build a Melksham bypass.
“We don’t expect to get the grant – we probably have a one in ten chance of winning, at best. However, if we bid and fail, we have more credibility in the next round, so it’s a forward thinking move to start now.
“There’s no way this is happening before 2020; it’s more likely we will see it happen in 2025 or 2030.
“That said, the council has been improving the A350 from Chippenham downwards. If you follow the road south from the M4, Beanacre and Melksham are the next obstacle. It’s a problem we’re going to have to face at some point.”
Though no budget has been revealed, Wiltshire Council must bid for at least £30million for the project to be eligible for the grant. Cllr Whitehead said it would be a ‘significant’ project that the local authority could never afford on its own.
Mayor, cllr Terri Welch, said it would be ‘wonderful’ if the Government chose to invest in the area, and thinks the scheme would be welcomed by the area.
Cllr Welch told Melksham News, “This is something that has been discussed for about 25 years; traffic is a real issue and I think the bypass is a good idea.
“We all realise how bad congestion is on the road, whether due to accidents or just the sheer volume of traffic.
“Beanacre certainly suffers from the constant flow of traffic, and there are definite problems near Asda and Leekes.
“As long as Melksham is well signposted, I don’t think the town’s economy would suffer because it would mostly be lorries and holiday traffic using the road.
“We would expect to see the route run from above Beanacre, to the east of the town and joining up near Bowerhill somewhere.
“I think it would definitely be supported by local people and the councils.”
The A350 is one of the county’s busiest roads and passes through Melksham via Beanacre Road, Farmers Roundabout and Western Way.
Wiltshire Council has also announced it will be installing traffic lights at Farmers Roundabout as part of major road improvements at a future date.
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