Hilperton cycleway slammed as ‘eco-mentalist vanity project’

Tony Pearce, who also used to chair the environmental committee of the former West Wilts District Council, says the scheme would appear to be one which no one has asked for and which no one wants.

He said: “As far as I am aware there has been no attempt to take a census of either pedestrian or pedal cycle traffic in order to justify the need. Neither has been there any consultation with local residents who are most directly affected by these changes.”

Wiltshire Council says it undertook a public consultation in December 2020 regarding the Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 schemes.

The aim of the consultation was to determine the level of support for making permanent the temporary schemes installed as Tranche 1 as well as identifying which of the Tranche 2 schemes to take forward as permanent installations.

A total of 1,724 responses were received during the consultation. Of those, 534 specifically commented on the Hilperton Road, Trowbridge temporary scheme, with 67 per cent stating a preference for the introduction of a permanent cycle facility at this location to replace the temporary scheme.

Mr Pearce, 74, who lives on the Hilperton Road, says the 1,724 people who responded is only 3.94 per cent of the Trowbridge population of 43,719 in the last census, with the 534 who commented on the Hilperton Road scheme representing just 1.22 per cent of the town's total population.

He says that only 357 people, fewer than one per cent of Trowbridge’s population, said they are in favour of the scheme.

“What is Wiltshire Council doing spending £480,000 to satisfy the needs of less than one per cent of the town’s population?” he said.

Mr Pearce also criticised the delay in completing the project, saying the road will now be closed for two weeks instead of five days.

He says residents have watched aghast as contractors have lopped back trees and dug up the pavement to make a wider cycleway and to narrow the road carriageway.

“The road was to be closed for five days, that period has now miraculously increased to two weeks and there is no indication that this period will be sufficient to conclude the work.

“I have written to the Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council asking for reasons for the delay, details of any additional costs and details of any penalty clauses included in the contract; reply eagerly awaited.

“I have not seen any plans but, from what I see from daily observation of the work ongoing, there is likely to be a substantial reduction in the width of the carriageway outside the Fire and Ambulance Stations and it would appear that two large vehicles travelling in opposite directions may encounter difficulties in passing safely.

“In addition there will be new traffic lights; has anyone given serious thought to the impact which this situation may have on the response times of emergency vehicles which could encounter serious delays in exiting their stations. I very much doubt it!

“The whole episode smacks of a decision of someone at officer level at Wiltshire Council seeking to carry through a vanity project, worthy of a bearded, sandal-wearing, nut- munching, eco-mentalist.

“The lack of openness is worthy of a Stalin or even the more recent Chinese paranoia about any inquiry into the Wuhan laboratory. This should surprise no one however as Wiltshire Council has what is known as “previous form.”

“The old one-way system in Trowbridge was foisted on us by the then county surveyor and was nicknamed “Chadwick’s Maze” - perhaps this potential white elephant will eventually be known as “Herbert’s Folly” or even “Bertie’s Balls-Up.”

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The new walking and cycling facility on Hilperton Road in Trowbridge will help to make it easier for people to leave their cars at home for those shorter journeys, and improve the route to the town centre and cycle network connections.

"It will help our residents to live healthier lives, reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, lower carbon emissions and improve air quality, which will be particularly beneficial for parents and children travelling by foot, bike or scooter to the schools in the area.

“The team has already started the work and our contractors are working 12-hour shifts to complete the works as quickly as possible.

"However, due to the impact of low temperatures on both construction activities and resource availability, we have unfortunately had to increase the duration of the road closure.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and want to reassure anyone affected by the closure that we are working as quickly as possible to get the works completed and the road open with the new scheme in place as soon as possible.”

The county authority says the increased duration of the road closure is as a result of the impact of low temperatures on both construction activities and resource availability.

Whilst operatives are working 12-hour day shifts, including Saturdays, to complete the works requiring a closure as quickly as is safely possible, there are activities, such as kerb laying and other activities requiring concrete laying that cannot be undertaken in temperatures below three degrees Celsius.

In addition, a number of these operatives are drivers of the council’s gritting fleet and as such have been diverted for essential winter maintenance activities during the evening/night, resulting in a reduced workforce for some of the working day.

Wiltshire Council says the carriageway width reduces to a minimum of six metres at the narrowest point (at the crossing near to Stancomb Avenue). This aligns with design guidance on road widths and is suitable for the passage of large vehicles.

It adds: "For the most part, the carriageway width is in excess of 6m. In addition to following design standards, swept path analysis of vehicle movements has been undertaken to ensure that there is no conflict between passing large vehicles."

The council says the emergency services were statutory consultees through the legal order process and did not raise concerns through that process about the crossing installation.

"The crossings will only display red to vehicles when in use by pedestrians/cyclists and will otherwise rest on green. Yellow box markings will be provided both outside the fire station and the ambulance station to keep these areas clear of traffic."

Rejecting Mr Pearce's accusation that the scheme is a 'vanity project', the council said: "The scheme will make it easier and safer for children to walk/cycle/scoot to the many schools in the area and improve safety for all cyclists and pedestrians that use the route, while also improving links to the wider cycle network and walking routes in the town.

"If more people choose to leave their car at home thanks to better and safer cycling and walking facilities, it brings environmental benefits and improves air quality, while also improving the health and wellbeing of people who walk and cycle."