New rotunda officially opened in town centre

Westbury’s redeveloped rotunda has been officially opened, marking the introduction of the new town centre space following its completion earlier this year.

The new space was introduced by Mayor Jane Russ at the town’s first Sunday Brunch event of the year on Sunday 26th April.

Work to redevelop the area was completed earlier this year, with the project funded through £276,654 in regeneration grants and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, collected from housing developers to support local infrastructure.

Deputy Mayor Mark Bailey, who chairs the Vision for Westbury Committee, said in his annual report, “The work is now complete and the High Street has been opened up, transformed and modernised. You can now walk down the High Street and enjoy views of the green spaces of Soisy Gardens.

“We plan to encourage local groups to make use of this new facility to stage small performances and events, or even encourage local traders into the town centre, and we are working with the events team to promote this in the town.”

The redesigned space retains the original rotunda footprint, with a new oval seating and planting area replacing the previous walled structure. The former design had attracted complaints that it obstructed views of nearby green spaces such as Soisy Gardens and created an enclosed area some said could contribute to anti-social behaviour.

Plans for the redesign had been discussed for several years, with a public consultation carried out on the new design.

Mayor Jane Russ added, “This was always the purpose of the rotunda, to create a community space without having to close the High Street. Being able to do that now will be such a plus for the town.”