Your views needed on possible A350 Bypass routes

AS the deadline for comments about a Melksham A350 bypass has been extended to mid-January, local people are being urged to look at the routes being considered. 

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways said, “We want to gauge the opinioans of the public and local stakeholders, which is why we’re engaging at this early stage of the process.

“There are 18 options in total, and some of them do not involve a bypass at all, so we’d like to hear people’s views on these options and on the best way forward for the project.

“At this stage, we are seeking feedback on the early progress of the scheme – this is not a statutory consultation. If the scheme progresses, statutory consultation will follow in due course.”

The current routes being considered and information about the bypass project, including the survey, can be viewed at www. wiltshire.gov.uk/highways-a350-melksham-bypass. 

Wiltshire Council major projects highways engineer, Steve Wilson,  gave a presentation at an online town council meeting on 23rd November.

He explained that Wiltshire Council had received funding for the project from the Department for Transport (DfF) earlier this year to prepare an outline business case. He said that the A350 is the biggest route that Wiltshire Council has, is one of the busiest, is marred by congestion and delays, and has a high volume of traffic. Steve Wilson said that it has been proved that there is an economic benefit in improving the A350 around Melksham.

Over the next 12 months,  the scheme will be subject to an outline business case, which will be followed by a planning application.

Steve Wilson said that when there is a tendering of the works, “only then will we know how much it will cost. Up until then, it will be estimates.”

He stressed that the council is in the very early stages of the project which would take 5/6 years, on the basis that they could “get across each hurdle.” During this time, there will be other opportunities for stake holders and members of the public to become engaged and help shape the scheme.

In looking at the currently 18 different routes, each route is being assessed on factors such as allowing east to west connectivity of traffic flow  across the town, local safety concerns such as areas where there are cluster sites for accidents, noise and air pollution. At the moment, Steve Wilson said, they have a long list of possible routes but over time, they will discard unsuitable options, to produce a short list of routes.

He explained that some of the current routes to the west of the town have questions over deliverability because of constraints that form part of the route. Options to the east of the town are performing better, he said. Route 10d (see Wiltshire Council map) was a new route, which needed to be explored further. Other routes may come forward which may be considered if they have merit. However, Steve Wilson said he preferred the term corridors at the moment, rather than specific routes as the exact routes might vary slightly.

He added that the objectives of a Melksham A350 bypass are to improve north-south connectivity of traffic, enhance east-west connectivity, provide opportunities for walking and cycling, improve safety and reduce the severance effect of the A350 through Melksham.

Following the presentation, members of the public were invited to ask questions. 

Tom and Mary Pearce asked about the 10c and 10d routes which, they said, were significantly different. They were concerned about the 10d route having to cross the canal, a brook and flood plain. They said this would cause a great environmental impact. On the website, they said both routes were described as being virtually the same, but they said they are not, and would bring different consequences.

Steve Wilson agreed that there was a “stark difference” at the southern end of 10d and 10c. He also said that 10d would need to cross the Kennet and Avon Canal, which had cost implications.

David Finch asked about the long list and short list of options. He asked that if something had been ruled out at an earlier stage, does it prohibit the route being raised again, or can it be resurrected.

Steve Wilson said that anything was up for re-assessment until a particular route had been adopted by Wiltshire Council.

David Finch also asked if there was a plan for what the A350 would look like north to south through the whole of Wiltshire, or if it was a piecemeal plan.

Steve Wilson replied that the whole route had been a long term recommendation from Wiltshire Council who recognised the importance of the route.

In reply to a question about the routes from Nick Westbrook, Steve Wilson explained that all options are on the table. Nick Westbrook also asked about infill houses which may be built as part of any scheme. Steve Wilson said that he could not answer questions about housing as this was a matter for the local planning review.

Tom Pearce asked if, in regards to routes 10c and 10d, an environmental impact assessment had been taking place. Steve Wilson replied that “walkovers” of the sites had been taking place. He said they had written to landowners for access to carry this out but some had not given consent. The visual impact of any routes are taken into account, along with a survey of the flora and fauna.

Richard Kendall said that  because the information on routes 10c and 10d are similar, “the public consultation feedback is skewed because of the way you have presented it.”

Steve Wilson said it was not the council’s intention to represent one route as more viable than another. He hoped that the list can be reduced to two or three on a shortlist, followed by more consultation next year. 

The closing date for submission of the questionnaire is 23:59 on Sunday 17 January.