Bradford on Avon town councillors unanimously vote to support a new traffic management scheme in the town.
Following the adoption of the Future of Transport consultation report, the Town Council wrote to Wiltshire Council stating its desired priorities.
These aims are; the reduction of traffic volumes, improving air quality and improving pedestrian cyclist safety and comfort – with the latter of these options, in need of most immediate attention.
Following discussions with Wiltshire councillors, Cllr Tim Trimble and Cllr Sarah Gibson, Wiltshire Council has reviewed the consultation report and considered the Town Council’s priorities, and has written to clarify its interpretation of the results.
The letter from Wiltshire Council said: “Having regard to the above, I interpreted your position as being inclined to support a proposition that involved the use of traffic management.
“More specifically, achieved by a redistribution of movement within the town with changes that remove vehicular traffic from the more constrained parts of the network onto those roads with fewer constraints.
“This is likely to involve the use of one way working on parts of the network currently subject to two way working.
“It is also recognised that additional measures will need to be identified to help mitigate those roads likely to be subject to increases in vehicular traffic.”
At the Annual Town Council meeting on Tuesday, 3 May, councillors unanimously that the approach outlined did reflect the Town Council’s wishes as it is an appropriate response to views of residents expressed in the survey.
Councillors added that they were keen to see mitigations in those areas likely to see an increased volume of traffic embedded in any scheme from the beginning.
Responding to the letter from Wiltshire Council, Bradford on Avon Town Council wrote in reply: “Members would like to stress that the consultation questions, and the views expressed, related to town wide issues and are not centred solely on the area around the bridge.
“We would like to see initial thoughts that provide strategy for the whole town and its wider connections, including measures that ultimately reduce traffic volume as well as address pedestrian safety and air quality concerns.”
Read Wiltshire Council’s letter HERE and the Bradford on Avon Town Council response HERE.
More information on the Future of Transport consultation can be read HERE.