Traffic gridlock as drivers flock to Melksham for ‘cheapest fuel’

Melksham town centre has regularly faced gridlock recently as drivers flock to the Sainsbury’s petrol station to fill up with cheaper fuel.

Local councillors and residents report that the Melksham branch has significantly lower prices than other local stations and Sainsbury’s outlets in nearby towns.

Queues at the petrol station have caused traffic to back up and gridlock through the town centre, frustrating local residents trying to get around.

Fuel prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, due to disruption to global oil supplies linked to the war in Iran.

At the Full Council meeting on Monday 30th March, Cllr Jennie Westbrook said people are travelling from other town to take advantage of the lower prices in Melksham, leaving the town centre gridlocked.

“I know people who are driving from Chippenham, from Bradford-on-Avon and even from Trowbridge because it’s so much cheaper than anywhere else,” she said.

Cllr Westbrook suggested the council could help ease congestion, including asking Sainsbury’s to advertise busy times to avoid traffic build-up.

“We are not asking them to change their petrol prices,” she said. “On a Friday, when all the deliveries are being done at the same time, you can’t get through Melksham. It was a Sunday afternoon recently, and traffic was at a standstill.”