WESTBURY Town Council is to press for a relief road from Yarnbrook to the A36 to the west of the town, which would serve the West Wilts Trading Estate.
Calls for action about the amount of traffic going through Westbury are increasing, but so far, Wiltshire Council has no concrete plans for a Westbury bypass. But at a recent Vision for Westbury (VFW) meeting late last month, town councillors argued in favour of a relief road from Yarnbrook to the A36.
The idea has the backing of local MP Andrew Murrison.
The town council has come up with three ‘priority schemes’ as part of an action plan for the future of Westbury – with transport improvements as one of the three. A western relief road would be a key part of these improvements.
As part of their plans for improved transport, the council says it would ‘lobby for a Westbury relief road from Yarnbrook to A36 (Beckington) which would also provide a direct link to the West Wilts trading estate.
The town council’s highways, planning & development (HP&D) committee is now being asked to investigate fully the possibility of the relief road, although the council has been quick to point out that it is Wiltshire Council and not the town council, who will decide any scheme.
Clerk to Westbury Town Council, Deborah Urch said, “Please note, the town council cannot instigate a relief road project – this remains the responsibility of the principal authority [Wiltshire Council].”
In the past, Wiltshire Council has favoured an eastern route for a Westbury bypass, but this has been met with strong opposition over the impact it will have on countryside beneath Westbury White Horse
At the recent Vision For Westbury meeting, cllr Kettlety said, “Traffic is a major problem in this town and we have to think about traffic management and the flow of traffic through any and every part of our town.”
