QUESTIONS have been raised by Westbury MP, Dr Andrew Murrison, as to why a second bypass is being planned for Melksham when the need for a Westbury bypass is so much greater.
The MP said, “It’s completely bonkers to be planning another bypass at Melksham which few people seem to want, whilst ignoring Westbury, where the need and appetite are so very obvious.
“I’m puzzled that we appear to be forging ahead with a second A350 bypass for Melksham – which nobody seems to want – whilst ignoring the far greater problem at Westbury where the community has been demanding relief for as long as anyone can remember.”
Andrew Murrison has also welcomed National Highway’s update on its south coast to M4 strategic study. The definitive report, expected at the end of the year, will have big implications for major roads running through south and west Wiltshire.
He added, “A prime contender for the new strategic route is the A350 but that can only happen with improvements, especially the long-awaited western relief road for the bottleneck at Westbury and Yarnbrook.”
The Baroness Vere of Norbiton, the Minister for Roads, Buses and Places, said in a letter to Dr Murrison, “At transport oral questions on 17th March, you asked about the M4 to Dorset Coast Connectivity Study.
“National Highways is making good progress with the study. Scoping work in 2021 identified the A350 for consideration as one of a number of possible alternatives to the current A36/ A46 Strategic Road Network corridor.
“I am grateful for your contribution to that scoping work as part of the wider MP engagement, and for making the case for the need for improvements to the A350 at Westbury. Work is under way to consider the performance of all corridors, with a final report of the strategic study now expected to be published by the end of this year.
“At this stage, it is too early to know what options the strategic study will recommend.”
In response, the MP said, “I’m pleased to hear this Department for Transport study, which is central to getting a bypass for Westbury and Yarnbrook, is on course. I’ll continue to ask questions about this until we get the result we want.”
