No plans to change to Church Street junction

CALLS for changes to be made to the Church Street junction have been ruled out by Melksham Area Board.

Campaigners say not being able to turn right into Church Street in the centre of town, causes a significant build up of traffic  in the Market Place and along both Spa Road and King Street and so called for an assessment of the junction.

Options for amending the junction were heard at the Melksham Area Board earlier this month, but none were considered appropriate.

The options included allowing a right turn into Church Street, either using the existing traffic lights sequence or adding a ‘right only’ sequence for traffic travelling towards the Market Place.

However, the Highways Department at Wiltshire Council deemed any changes would have a negative impact on the capacity of the junction and could increase the length of queuing time.

Instead, councillors voted for signage to be reviewed at the Lowbourne roundabout to promote the car park next to the library.

Chair of Melksham Area Community Safety Group Colin Goodhind said, “I’m disappointed at the outcome but accept the detailed report from the Highways Engineer at the area board meeting regarding a traffic signal solution.

“What really disappoints me is that the report and discussion centred on a ‘signalisation’ solution and nothing more imaginative or innovative was suggested. The issue was actually the removal of unnecessary traffic from our soon-to-be-improved Market Place, but several of those present seem to have been completely satisfied to see the suggestion of changing the junction thrown out! I feel the agenda item was badly named. If nothing else, this has forced a form of consultation on Highways, something they generally don’t believe in.

“I have to say that councillor Jon Hubbard’s suggestion that signage of alternative car parks is improved to encourage their use in preference to our central car park is a great one, but I don’t think it will be very effective until the free parking in the Market Place is removed. Opportunities in the past for alternative access to the Church Street car park have been missed and perhaps the time has come for a radical solution to avoid bringing cars to our central car park via a totally unsuitable route.”