New look for town centre rotunda?

A REDESIGN of the rotunda in the centre of the town could “open up” the High Street, increase footfall to the area, and reduce anti-social behaviour, councillors have said.

Westbury Town Council recently voted to approve the concept design for the redesign of the rotunda at a meeting held on Tuesday 9th May, and the plans will go out to public consultation before a final decision is made. As part of the redesign, the council says that the outer walls of the rotunda could be lowered and the space inside the rotunda would be left empty, to open up the area and create a space for events.

The proposals also suggest creating a rain garden on the side facing the library, to alleviate drainage issues, as well as introducing a ‘talking bench’ where people would be encouraged to chat to one another.

Westbury Town Council has received complaints over the years that the rotunda cuts off views of green spaces such as Soisy Gardens and creates an enclosed area that encourages anti-social behaviour. The new suggestions would work to open up the area which could solve both issues.

Speaking at the recent meeting of the town council, cllr Jane Russ said, “Following the Vision for Westbury (VFW) document, the VFW subcommittee has been looking at ways to expand and open up the centre of the town. As part of this, an architect has been asked to prepare draft concept designs and after several drafts, the VFW committee is recommending a design that retains the overall structure, look and feel of the current rotunda, creating more seating, including the suggestion of a ‘talking bench,’ creating a safe and welcoming place, a climate-friendly rain garden, and to open up the area to allow for its flexible use for events, markets and performances.”

A public consultation will take place soon and comments will be incorporated into the design before a scope of work and quotes are obtained, grants are investigated, and the information is presented to the full council.

Cllr Gordon King has concerns that the redesign of the rotunda may encourage motorists to use the area as a through-route. He said, “The plans as presented for the redevelopment of the rotunda are visually attractive and interesting but nevertheless, because of the paring back of the structure, it may open the vista to such a degree that it attracts increasing levels of traffic seeking a through route and exacerbating the problem of the persistent breeching of the traffic regulations caused by traffic moving in the wrong direction.

“Additionally, because of this, there remains the possibility that it might bring pedestrians in conflict with moving traffic, because of an inadequate separation of the walkway. Finally, the rotunda as it is now, attracts visitors for recreation and contemplation, of all ages, because it is a safe place. By removing that space and opening the structure so widely, it may be less attractive to mothers of the very young or elderly residents and does not adequately satisfy my test of safeguarding.

“It would transpire, in my opinion, that the prime motivation for the plan is less about enhancing the high street as a place for trade or inspiring integration and connectivity by personal choice, but as a means of enhancing the council’s own events programme. There are, I am sure, other ways of enhancing the High Street which are much more cost-effective and potentially less disruptive in the short term. To mitigate many of these unintended consequences that this change can engender will needlessly escalate the cost appreciably. In holding my view, I realise I am estranged from that of my colleagues.”