One step forward, two steps back! Campus plans fall behind schedule

PLANS for the new Melksham campus have taken a step forward with the completion of demolition works on the site of the Conigre football ground – but detailed designs of the campus have yet to be completed.

In a statement read out at this month’s Melksham Area Board meeting, Wiltshire Council said that detailed designs for the campus are still in development and that the planning application will be submitted in ‘due course’.

The information given in the announcement suggests that the campus project is months behind schedule, but Wiltshire Council has said that the campus is still set to open in early 2021. 

According to the estimated timeline given to the community at the Melksham Area Board meeting in October last year, the ‘final design concept’ for the new campus was expected to be completed by the end of March this year, and the ‘developed design and planning information’ was due by the end of June. The timeline also estimates that the project should now be in the planning stages and that the main contractor tender process should have started last month.

Melksham News approached Wiltshire Council asking for an explanation for why the project is behind the timeline given last year, also asking when the final design is expected to be completed and the planning application submitted. A response from the council was not received before the paper went to press.

At the area board meeting, a statement from Wiltshire Council said, “We are pleased to announce that the demolition of the former Melksham Town football ground is due to complete this week (week ending 11th November).

“The works include removal of the redundant spectators’ stands, barriers, shelters and associated structures; the land will be cleared in preparation for the new campus.

“The design team continue to develop detailed designs for the new campus centre. This includes the design of the entrance and café space, the fitness suite and library.

“The new campus will include a six-lane 25m pool, learner pool, six court sports hall, state-of-the-art fitness suite, studio, library, Melksham Without Parish Council offices, meeting rooms and café. Civil engineers are also exploring options to reinstate the pond.

“The planning application will be submitted in due course, the campus is set to open in early 2021.

“Works to re-instate the tennis courts alongside the former rugby pitch and bowls club will begin on receipt of planning approval. The upgrade will include a new layout for four courts in line with Lawn Tennis Association standards and floodlighting to increase playing opportunities.”

Wiltshire Council cabinet member for campuses and communities,  cllr John Thomson, said, “A project of this scale takes a tremendous amount of planning, so it’s really gratifying to see work start. Any minor construction and preparation we can do now will really help us. People will start to see more and more activity on-site as we gear towards full construction.”