A350 named key route but will Westbury get its long-awaited bypass?

After years of debate, the A350 through Westbury has been confirmed as the preferred route for traffic between the M4 and the south coast. However, there are still questions about the future of a bypass for the town.

The findings were published in National Highways’ M4 to Dorset Coast Connectivity Strategic Study, which identifies the A350 as the preferred route, running from the M4 through Chippenham, Melksham, and Westbury before joining the A36 at Warminster. However, a crucial concern for Westbury residents is the lack of any specific mention of a bypass – an issue that has plagued the town for decades. Westbury remains the only town along the A350 where traffic, including heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), still runs through the town centre.

One of the study’s main recommendations is a “more detailed assessment of the A350 between West Ashton and the A36 to address issues at Yarnbrook and Westbury.” However, critics argue that this lacks clarity and that Westbury continues to lag behind Melksham and Chippenham, where Wiltshire Council has already committed to major road upgrades.

Local reaction: mixed feelings and concerns

Westbury town councillor Philip Harcourt summed up the situation, stating, “Making the A350 the preferred route could certainly be good if it means a Westbury bypass – this could be the most positive news we’ve had for a long time. The town needs a bypass and that’s got to happen before even more traffic is funelled through the town. The report is good news if it means a bypass, but a disaster if not.”

Cllr Harcourt also raised concerns about funding, pointing out that any major road improvements would require government investment. “Wiltshire Council won’t have the money to finance this, so it will have to come from the Government. Although we’ve heard a lot about infrastructure projects, the focus seems to be more on green energy than roads.”

He also noted the impact of the recent closure of Cleveland Bridge in Bath, which has already led to an increase in HGV traffic through Westbury. “Now, if this report goes ahead, MP Danny Kruger has successfully managed to get extra traffic out of his constituency in Marlborough and pushed it into ours,” he said.

Fellow town councillor Mike Sutton also expressed reservations, stating, “Whilst any review of the road network that impacts Westbury is welcome, we should be mindful that at present they are only strategic proposals, not any substantive works. Westbury has heard this on many previous occasions.”

Cllr Sutton also pointed out that Wiltshire Council has prioritised other areas over Westbury when it comes to road funding. “Only recently, millions were spent upgrading the Chippenham bypass by providing extra lanes. Some would argue that money would have been better used in Westbury. Without a definitive route plan, the risk remains that additional traffic will be forced through the town without the necessary infrastructure improvements.”

Local campaigner Phil Chipper has raised concerns about the cost and true motivations behind Wiltshire Council’s infrastructure plans. He questioned whether the council’s primary motivation was road improvement or creating space for large-scale housing developments.

He warned, “Wiltshire Council aren’t at all interested in the M4 South coast project; the only section that they will actively undertake are those around Chippenham and Melksham where there is the greatest opportunity for large scale housing projects.  If they truly were interested in the through route, then the Westbury bypass would be the first priority. The fact that it’s still unbuilt, underlines where WC’s priorities are.”

MP Andrew Murrison’s response

Local MP Andrew Murrison cautiously welcomed the report’s findings but pressing for further details. “This takes the long overdue western route bypass for Westbury and Yarnbrook a step further, but I await details on mitigations along the whole route before commenting further. I have written to ministers asking for details and in the hope that there will be no further delays in this interminable process. My constituents have been waiting far too long.”

Wiltshire Council’s perspective

Wiltshire Council has embraced the report, seeing it as an opportunity to secure much-needed investment for road infrastructure improvements across the county.

Parvis Khansari, corporate director – place, said, “Much of this route runs through Wiltshire, and so it has huge implications for our county’s road network. This study now means that highways improvements could be made at several key points in the county, including at Melksham, Westbury, Warminster, and Salisbury.”

However, critics say the council’s statement did not mention the Westbury bypass, leaving uncertainty about whether the town will see any direct benefits from the proposed changes.