Footpath to Melksham Oak School delayed again as frustration grows

THE long-awaited footpath to Melksham Oak School, which was hoped to be completed in time for the new school year, has been delayed yet again.

For nearly seven years, Wiltshire Council has been under pressure from parents and local councillors to build the 450-metre pathway, which will connect new housing developments in Melksham East to the rear of Melksham Oak Community School.

The new path will provide safer access for the school’s 1,300 students, reducing the number of pupils using the busy A365 and replacing the current route across a field that students are currently using.

Despite previously indicating that the pathway could be completed by May and ready for the new term, Wiltshire Council has now confirmed that construction will not start until later this year. The project has already faced numerous delays with the authority blaming Covid and a hike in costs up to £450,000.

Wiltshire Council has now stated that additional work is still required to protect trees and local wildlife before construction can begin.

The news has been met with criticism from Melksham Without Parish Council. Councillor John Glover said, “This delay is really disappointing. Melksham Without Parish Council have consistently asked for a rear footpath to the school, and whilst unsuccessful with the original build of the school were pleased to secure it at a later stage.

“We have also been regularly asking for updates and for the preliminary work to be undertaken for several years so everything was ready to enable construction once the housing development progressed. We do look forward to the opening of this route to provide east of Melksham school pupils with a safer journey than using the footpath alongside the A365, that is often overcrowded at peak school travel times.”

Seven-year wait

Wiltshire Councillor Mike Sankey echoed the frustration, saying “I’ve been supporting calls for this footpath for over seven years. Had the project been progressed when the funding was first received, the path would be complete now and at a much lower cost. The repeated delays have left many of us feeling justifiably frustrated and disappointed.”

Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways at Wiltshire Council, outlined the conditions delaying the project, “The planning permission for the shared use path at Melksham Oak was granted subject to conditions. These conditions include an Arboricultural Method Statement to ensure relevant trees along the development are safeguarded as appropriate, a Construction Environmental Management Plan to ensure relevant ecological protections, and detailed plans of the lighting to ensure that the local wildlife is protected.

“We are working on resolving these conditions, and it’s hoped that work will commence later this year with construction taking around four months, subject to weather and ground conditions.”