TOWN councillors are ‘getting the ball rolling’ with a potential Westbury bypass after agreeing to put a proposed western route to Wiltshire Council for review, decades after the bypass was first discussed.
Councillors say that a bypass for Westbury is needed now, more than ever, as the volume of traffic using Westbury’s roads is increasing.
Councillors also agreed to commission evidence-based traffic surveys which would help support the case for a potential bypass.
A task and finish group was previously set up by Westbury Town Council to make suggestions about how to alleviate traffic problems in the town. Since the group was formed, the town council says there have been several developments which will have a significant impact on the amount of traffic using the town, particularly the A350. These include the closure of the Cleveland Bridge in Bath, the Bath Clean Air Zone, the proposed Westbury incinerator, and the proposed distribution centre at Hawkeridge Park.
As a result, the town council’s task and finish group say that now is the right time to put pressure on Wiltshire Council to begin to plan for a bypass, which would remove a considerable amount of traffic, especially HGVs, from the town centre.
This proposed route would link to a route which is planned to join the A350 at West Ashton, to the trading areas and could also link with the A36 and A361.
Wiltshire Council had previously tried to push forward plans for an Eastern route, but this was rejected in 2008.
At last week’s full town council meeting, Cllr Mike Sutton said, “For 20 years, nothing has happened with regards to the bypass – the Air Quality Management Zone was set up by Wiltshire Council 20 years ago and they’ve done absolutely nothing. This council wrote to Wiltshire Council back in July to ask if they had safeguarded any land that they may consider for a possible relief road.
“The answer we got back was, ‘No, we haven’t – we have no idea where the bypass would go and we haven’t safeguarded any land, so we don’t know. If you have any ideas, put them forward’. So, this proposal is to kickstart the project again and get the ball rolling with Wiltshire Council. They’re not even going to consider this until 2025/26, then they have to apply for government money, so we’re looking at 2030.”
Cllr Jane Russ added, “This is an old battle, the Eastern route. Last time we went there we won it. The Eastern route was first considered, now, ten years ago and life has moved on. It has become obvious to all but the partially sighted that the Western route is by far the best, due to access to the industrial estates.
“The Eastern route won’t survive again. It’s wrong then, wrong now – and here is a perfect opportunity to go for it.”
The exact route will be responsibility of Wiltshire Council and Somerset Council (depending on the agreed route), and not Westbury Town Council. However, the route now proposed by the town council has the support of local MP, Dr Andrew Murrison. Dr Mark McClelland, portfolio holder for transport at Wiltshire Council, has also indicated to the town council that he is willing to listen to suggestions about how traffic problems on the A350 could be improved.
Cllr Mike Kettlety said, “If anyone has any doubt, perhaps they should look at the failed proposed Eastern bypass. The whole of the eastern side of Westbury will be in danger of being built on. Huge estates to cover the need for housing – and there is a need for housing, but not on the eastern side of Westbury.
“I agree with cllr Sutton, Wiltshire Council say they have no idea. I think their plan is to push through the eastern route again, despite the fact that it was proven to be the wrong route years ago, it’s even more wrong now as it will increase traffic travelling through the town and all the other pinch points. People will then look at Westbury as a rat run. Westbury desperately needs a bypass, but it needs a bypass to go where traffic needs to go – and that’s the Westbury trading estate.”
Cllr Ward Jones said, “I think the key word here is proposed. What we are doing is setting an exploration of a proposed Western bypass- that doesn’t mean we support or oppose it. Let’s look at the details.”
The town council will now fund privately commissioned traffic surveys at specific locations in town to obtain evidence of the current volume of traffic impacting the towns and village in the local area.
