NEWS of possible funding for a Westbury bypass has received the support of local MP Andrew Murrison, who has suggested that a western bypass could be the answer to Westbury’s traffic congestion.
Last month, a bypass for Westbury returned to the spotlight after it was revealed that the A350 could be in line for extra funding as part of Government plans for a ‘major road network’.
The proposal by the Department of Transport, earmarks the A350 between the M4 at Chippenham and the A36 in Warminster to be part of a new major road network across England, as part of the government’s transport investment strategy.
In 2009, plans for an eastern bypass around Westbury were turned down by the Secretary of State for Transport because of its potential environmental impact, but MP for the area, Andrew Murrison, has suggested that a western bypass could be the way forward.
“An eastern bypass is right out since we comprehensively dealt with that a decade ago,” he said. “But a western solution linking local light industrial and commercial hubs is looking much more likely than it did a few weeks ago.”
In response to the news, the MP has also spoken with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Roads Minister Jesse Norman to point out the opportunities for Westbury and district and the possible risks if the proposed north-south route strategic does not involve taking the highway out of the centre of the town.
He said, “The route from Poole, which is one of our biggest and fastest growing seaports, and the M4 is appalling all the way through Dorset and Wiltshire. In places it resembles a cart track. To cope with the increasing traffic predicted, a major overhaul is needed.
“With the prospect of new money from the Treasury, that brings opportunity for the relief at last of Westbury and Yarnbrook. However, I do not want to see us lose out, only to get yet more heavy traffic dumped on the doorstep of my long-suffering constituents, or to waste time looking at routes that were comprehensively dismissed a decade ago.
“We can’t countenance any increase in transit traffic along the A350, particularly heavy traffic, without dealing with the appalling congestion, noise, vibration and air pollution that affects my constituents in the middle of the town.
“I’d be interested in readers’ views on this issue of crucial importance to Westbury and surrounding villages.”
Andrew Murrison can be contacted by email: andrew.murrison.mp@parliament.uk
