CONSTRUCTION traffic, which will be working on the new Melksham Campus, will have to drive into town and use the Market Place access. Town councillors said “we want the job done,” but added they were disappointed that town centre routes had to be used, at a meeting last month.
Wiltshire Council had said in a letter that a rear access route the Western Way (A350) was not feasible and would add cost and further delay to the build. As a result, construction traffic will be using the Market Place entrance to the campus site, via King Street and Spa Road.
Wiltshire Council said that at the busiest period of construction, an average of 25 large vehicles a day will be visiting the site. The council added that their traffic survey estimated that 331 large vehicles a day currently enter the Market Place from either Spa Road or King Street.
Cllr Vanessa Fiorelli said that her biggest concern was the residents of King Street, Spa Road and the Melksham House areas.
Considering town centre traffic weight restrictions, cllr Mike Sankey said there is a 7.5 tonne traffic weight limit in the High Street, but not in King Street and Spa Road.
Cllr Jon Hubbard said that most journeys would be made along Spa Road and should avoid the hours of schoolchildren travelling to and from school. He said that Wiltshire Council’s road safety teams will work in advance with the affected schools of Melksham Oak and Aloeric.
He said that construction traffic using the town was unfotunate, but “this has to happen.The funding for the campus is secure, let’s just get on with it.”
Cllr Adrienne Westbrook agreed, saying, “We have to go with it.” But she said the town council should write to Wiltshire Council saying that the town council is “disappointed that this action has to be taken. We are disappointed that lorry movements cannot go in off the A350.” She added that councillors understood Wiltshire Council’s financial constraints, but added, “People will be watching every move they make.”
Cllr Fiorelli asked what residents should do it they believed their properties were damaged as a result of the lorry movements.
Cllr Hubbard said that the response from Wiltshire Council’s highways team was if a resident believes there is damage to their property, either subsidence, or vibration damage because of their use of the public highway, they should contact their own house insurance. The company will then contact Wiltshire Council.
Cllr Fiorelli suggested that residents along the route should take photographs if they think there has been any damage.
Cllr Mike Sankey said that if the town council is writing to Wiltshire Council, they should ask that appropriate road signs be installed to let lorry drivers know which roads they should be using to access the Market Place.
