PLANS to build a footpath at the rear of Melksham Oak Community School were given the green light by town councillors at a meeting earlier this month.
The school, parents and local councillors have waited for six years for Wiltshire Council to build the 450-metre pathway that will connect the new development in Melksham East (Hunters Wood) to the Melksham Oak Community School. It will provide safe access for the school’s 1,300 students, who have been left to commute alongside a busy road.
Wiltshire Council said works should be completed this year, following numerous delays in the project starting, with the authority blaming Covid and a hike in costs up to £450,000.
At the economic and development meeting on 9th January, town councillors were in favour of the plans and discussed the need to keep pedestrians safe with lighting and CCTV, particularly following reports of bullying outside the Melksham Oak Community School.
Cllr Jennie Westbrook said, “I do think we need some CCTV down there. It is a potentially quite isolated path. Whilst I appreciate it is being used for schoolchildren to link the two areas and I don’t think anyone doesn’t think it’s needed, it is also a very dark isolated path that could be quite dangerous for vulnerable people and I think if we could get some extra security down there, I would be very keen and pro that.”
Some councillors also felt that more needed to be added to Wiltshire Council’s current ecological plan, to further preserve protected wildlife. Cllr Charlie Stokes suggested installing hedging or fencing to ensure pedestrians stick to the pathway and protect bats, otters and other wildlife.
However, cllr Phil Alford said he felt the ecological assessment by Wiltshire Council already provided everything and noted that students already use this as a connecting route in the summer months and that the proposal is to tarmac the route and make it more accessible. He also said the pathway could eventually become part of a wider development.
