Bradford on Avon town councillors have unanimously approved a traffic scheme to improve traffic in the town.
The resolution asking for a hybrid scheme follows several years of talks, traffic surveys, a £50,000 study by Wiltshire Council highways consultants AtkinsRealis, and extensive consultation with residents.
The council voted to recommend that Wiltshire Council design a scheme on an experimental traffic order with the ability to be made permanent and to be assessed continually against its top priority of improving pedestrian safety.
It wants the order to include 20mph speed limits throughout the town; wider pavements being prioritised and maximised throughout the scheme, particularly at the bottom of Silver Street and the top of Market Street; one-way traffic east to west on Silver Street, and two-way traffic on Masons Lane.
The issue of how to reduce traffic volume, improve safety for pedestrians, and improve air quality has dogged the historic market town for decades.
After a long full council meeting on Tuesday, September 24, Bradford on Avon mayor Cllr Jack Vittles said: “I am delighted that as a town council we have voted unanimously for change in the town with a new traffic scheme.
“Traffic is a decades-long problem in Bradford on Avon, and this is the culmination of a thorough and consultative process over the last few years.
“I really want to thank all residents and town councillors for their engagement and considered thoughts on this topic throughout the process.
“I am particularly happy we have addressed our top priority of pedestrian safety with an emphasis on significantly wider pavements and reducing the speed limit in the town.
“We have also emphatically recommended that any mitigations required for areas that could be potentially negatively impacted by the scheme will be on the ground from the start.
“We now look forward to working closely with Wiltshire Council in designing a scheme that makes this recommendation a reality for everyone in the town.”
It added: “We are open to exploring both one-way and priority shuttle working at the top of market street, and would welcome guidance from expert Wiltshire Council highway engineers as to which system it would be most beneficial to our priorities to put in place first on a trial basis.”
The resolution was reached after a thorough debate and hearing questions and comments from the public at a packed meeting at St Margaret’s Hall. Throughout the process, the town council has worked closely with Wiltshire Council to design a scheme it hopes residents will find acceptable.
Traffic issues relating to congestion and public safety have bitterly divided the town, with some residents wanting a return to the one-way system used for the Covid pandemic social distancing and those who are strongly opposed to it.
Earlier this summer, town councillors met Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways, who highlighted that any motion must show an 'overall level of local support’.
Cllr Vittles added: “Wiltshire Council remains responsible for the roads and pavements in Bradford on Avon – and their knowledge and expertise will be essential for the detailed design work and consultation that happens next.
“Our recommendation of a trial on the pinch point at the top of Market Street is one area we'd very much welcome their guidance.
“I will be writing to Wiltshire Council in the coming days to set up a meeting as soon as possible to start work on the design phase.”
Wiltshire Council will now have to make a decision on the scheme.
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