Wiltshire councillor Horace Prickett is calling on Westbury to get behind a Western bypass and has come up with a possible route.
He says a Western route is the only viable idea as it will serve the West Wilts Trading Estate (WWTE), relieve the traffic congestion at Yarnbrook and prevent the scarring of the landscape under the iconic White Horse. He says that plans have to start now, to ensure Westbury won’t miss out again.
A Western route has also been backed by Westbury mayor Sheila Kimmins who told White Horse News it was the ‘only option’.
“The old Eastern bypass scheme under the White Horse was detested by everyone,” Horace said. “We have to knock that idea on the head once and for all and get behind a Western route, serving the West Wilts Trading Estate.
“Any route that ignores the trading estate will be an absolute disaster. If we want a successful bypass for Westbury, it has to go West. And that will also solve the other major headache which is the traffic at Yarnbrook, West Ashton and across to the Somerset border.
“A Western bypass would make the WWTE much more attractive to businesses wishing to locate there as the present road connections are exceedingly poor. The poor access is also one of the long-running complaints of existing businesses and a serious hindrance to any wishing to expand.
“An Eastern route under the White Horse would put a large scar through the landscape there, the B3098 Devizes Road at the back of the crematorium will need a large bridge – you couldn’t tunnel under the road – and you will either need another large tunnel or more likely a large bridge to get over the railway line. It would also totally destroy the landscape under the White Horse – and the traffic would still be jammed up at Yarnbrook.”
Horace, a former mayor of Westbury, said he has come up with a route after talking to local councils, highway officers at Wiltshire Council and ‘walking the various routes for 20 years or more’.
“Wiltshire Council’s five-year plan, 2020-25, is now in progress and if a Westbury bypass is going to be part of the following one, we have to start now. It’s no good waiting until 2025 to start looking at it. The town – Wiltshire councillors, Westbury Town Council, our MP and local people – has to get fully behind a Western route now.”
