A CONTINUOUS one-metre vehicle restraint barrier is being built at the lake at Station approach as part of Wiltshire Council highways’ process to adopt the nearby roads.
Lake users have raised concerns over the future access for the site for disabled and elderly people once the barrier is completed, as it would require users to physically step over the barrier. The developer, Linden Homes, says they will liaise with the Warminster and District Angling Club to discuss alternative access points.
A spokesperson from Linden Homes said, “The vehicle restraint barriers are required for highways safety and this has been agreed as part of the highways adoption procedure with Wiltshire Council, as the roads are due to be adopted by the unitary authority.
“As the barriers are continuous with no gaps, wheelchair access will be more difficult once the barriers are installed and we have been liaising with the fishing club to discuss alternative access to disabled fishing platforms to ensure entry can be gained. We have also been in communication regarding the programme of the barrier installation, including which areas would be unavailable while works are under way. The barrier installation is programmed to start now and is scheduled to take two to three months.
“We would like to apologise for any disruption while these essential works take place, however highway safety has to take priority in this instance.”
Linden Homes, which is part of Vistry Group, owns the land in question and has said that it is likely that the lake land will, in the future, either be gifted to the angling club or it will be given to the residents’ management company.
Kathryn Scarlett, who is a fishing enthusiast said, “I go to the lake every day and was fortunate enough to arrive one day when they were redoing the yellow circles with the red dots.
“I am prepared to do anything to have access to that area because I am semi-disabled myself, so I won’t be able to step over the fence. I’ve been walking across the field and around the lake all my life.
“It’s one of the most beautiful places in this area, with loads of different wildlife working together. They cannot take that away from me. It was a bitter blow that the houses were ever allowed to be built in the first place, with freshwater mussels, crayfish, bats, and many other species that are not present any more due to a loss of habitat.”
Linden Homes say they will discuss access options with the angling club, but as of going to print, the angling club has not received the relevant communication from the developer.
At a recent meeting of the highways, planning and development committee of Westbury Town Council, cllr Matt Dean, who also sits on Wiltshire Council said he has also asked for a meeting with the developer to discuss alternative access points to the lake.
