Plans to regenerate Melksham’s Market Place – have your say

Melksham residents will have the opportunity to take a look at proposals to transform the town’s historic Market Place.

An exhibition, which will run at the Town Hall from January 12 until February 1, will also give local people the chance to submit their views on the proposed improvements, which will tie in with the town’s planned new campus on the Melksham House site.

Wiltshire Council is investing nearly £80million in its campus programme to provide improved facilities and services across the county.

Melksham campus will provide a six-lane pool, bowling greens, fitness/dance suite and gym, cricket pitch, tennis courts, a library and hall and is expected to be ready for use in early 2017.

An opportunity to improve the wider area was identified during planning for the campus scheme. Access to the new campus will be provided through the centre of the Market Place with a new link on to Spa Road roundabout.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for campuses, said: “We have all worked hard to get the arrival of the new campus to the point where it is an exciting and realistic prospect for the town. I would encourage residents to get along to the exhibition to ensure they take the opportunity to have their say on the improvements planned for the Market Place as part of the wider campus project.”

The proposed improvements to the Market Place have been designed to provide through-movement for traffic to the campus; create a high quality public space in the centre of the town where people can congregate for social, leisure and community activities; improve the pedestrian environment and enhance and preserve the historic character and appearance of the town.

It will involve the creation of a road crossing the Market Place to enable access to the Campus development; clearly marked pedestrian crossings with raised surfaces and ramps to reduce traffic speeds; and a multi-functional shared space within the Market Place which will be used for the weekly market and can be used for community events, such as a Christmas Market, as well as meeting the everyday needs of the town.

The proposals also include the creation of new pavements to improve accessibility for pedestrians and those with mobility impairments. The London plane tree between the Market Place and the Market Tavern will be retained.

The roundabout will remain the same size but will be moved slightly to accommodate the access road into the campus. The proposed taxi rank capacity will match the existing taxi rank capacity, and there will be three disabled parking spaces incorporated into the plan.

More information about the campus programme can be found at:  www.wiltshire.gov.uk/communitycampuses