Plans to close part of the A36 until spring 2025 and divert traffic along the A350, which runs through the town centre, have been heavily criticised, with concerns raised about the potential impact on residents and businesses in the town.
“The difficulty is an unbypassed Westbury,” said local MP Andrew Murrison in a letter to National Highways. “There is already a huge traffic problem on the A350 running through the town. At its centre, the junction of Haynes Road and Warminster Road, there is an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). Pushing A36 traffic through the town will likely make the situation intolerable for residents and businesses.”
Highways England confirmed the plans to close part of the A36 at Limpley Stoke from 12th August until Spring 2025 to carry out repairs to stabilise a landslip and reconstruct the road. During this time, all traffic will be diverted via the A350.
The announcement follows an incident on the A350 through the town last week, where a lorry crashed into a house on Fore Street. The incident occurred on 22nd July, with no reported injuries, but it raised renewed concerns from residents about the volume of traffic passing through the town.
The MP has demanded an impact analysis from the highways authority to understand the full implications of the diversion. He has also called for details on alternative routes and any proposed schemes to mitigate the adverse effects on those living directly on the A350 through Westbury and Yarnbrook. At the time of going to press, the MP had not yet received a response.
