NEW updates on how the £16m Future High Streets Fund for Trowbridge will be spent have been given by Wiltshire Council.

Speaking to councillors at Trowbridge Area Board, Rory Bowen, head of services at the council gave a presentation on the timescales and technical aspects of the local authority’s plans for the county town.

Mr Bowen said some elements of the plans, such as the pedestrianisation of Market Street were no longer part of the scheme. This is due to the reduced level of funding awarded to the council by the government.

The key projects outlined by Mr Bowen would see the northern gyratory converted into a two-way system to allow for pedestrianisation at the top of the high street, improvements to the river Biss bank to enable safer pedestrian access to the riverfront, improving accessibility at Town Hall, and converting vacant shops into leisure or workspace units by offering support grants for change of use bids.

In December, leader of Trowbridge Town Council, Stewart Palmen, asked that the town councillors be involved in any trade-offs due to the reduced funding.

Cllr Palmen said he was in favour of the scheme and was pleased with aspects of the plans, however, said he was frustrated at the council not communicating with councillors.

He said. “It’s got down to the level of detail where you’ve agreed with the government how much money for each project and we weren’t involved.

“But on the positive side, I’m pleased with how it’s working out with the Town Hall and what’s been planned there. I like the Market Place side and further pedestrianisation.”

Mr Bowen, said that the lack of communication was not a strategy on behalf of the council, but a reflection of the time frames of the funding.

Cllr Antonio Piazza said that going forward he thought it was important that councillors are positive and foresaw some negativity with so much money being put into the town hall.

This sentiment was echoed by Cllr Mel Jacobs who asked for a collective briefing for the town councillors.

Adding that if there are details left to debate that the town councillors would be consulted and asked for their views.

“I thought this was the beginning of a process and not the end,” she said. “So, it would be great if we could have some input.”

Mr Bowen said that the funding was to deliver particular projects and would need to be aligned with the objectives of the funding scheme itself.

He added that there would be a meeting set up to keep councillors abreast of updates.

Cllr David Vigar urged against “hyping up” the project and that residents might think there was more to the Future High Street project.

“Wiltshire Council needs to own the decision and be clear to the public about what we’re spending this on, why this is the best way to spend this money and what £16m gets you,” he said.

Cllr Vigar also asked if this investment could also lead to a new leisure centre for the town.

Mr Bowen replied that the Future High Streets Fund did not have a leisure centre element but that there was a commitment to bring more leisure to the town but it was not linked to Future High Streets.

Consultation on the various schemes is slated to start in mid- 2023 with the construction coming to a close in March 2024.