Melksham Your Say - Consultation - Town Centre
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Return to Top of PageCONSULTATION ON TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
Wiltshire County Council, in partnership with West Wiltshire District Council, Melksham Town Council, and Melksham First, is developing a programme of consultation on traffic and environmental improvements in the town centre. This leaflet tells you about the first stage of the programme, at the junction of the High Street and Church Street.
Your Views
Several meetings and a public exhibition were held, to seek local people’s views. Most people were in favour of traffic and environmental improvements in the town centre. There was support particularly for widening the pavements, reducing traffic speeds, and encouraging through-traffic to use the by-pass.
Our Response: A Programme of Improvements
Following these consultations, a programme of improvements is being developed. The first phase focuses on the junction of the High Street and Church Street, and is scheduled for implementation in Autumn 2003.
The second phase will focus on the Market Place, and will be the subject of further public consultations in the autumn.
Phase One: High Street / Church Street Junction
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Aims
The proposals for the High Street/Church Street junction aim at making the junction safer and more attractive for shoppers and pedestrians, while maintaining efficient traffic movement through the town centre.
Key Proposals
- Footways widened at the junction.
- The right turn ban into Church Street to be maintained.
- Heavy goods vehicles restricted on the High Street between Church Street and Bank Street.
- New footway paving, and streetscape improvements.
Scheme Benefits
- More space for pedestrians.
- Safer pedestrian crossings, due to reduced crossing distances.
- Reduced traffic speed due to reduced road width - safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Fewer HGV’s, due to the proposed 7.5 tonne weight restriction.
- Fewer obstructions caused by unloading vehicles.
- Improved townscape with less clutter.
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Some Questions and Answers
Q: Is this the best option for the junction? Were other options considered?
A: Five other options were considered for this junction, but are not recommended because they would make traffic congestion worse, and/or were not locally supported. The five rejected options were:
- a mini-roundabout - poor road geometry and visibility;
- ‘shuttle working’ on the High Street (i.e. single lane flow, alternating in each direction) - this would cause long traffic queues;
- re-introduce a right turn from the High Street into Church Street - this would increase traffic congestion at peak periods, and not bring any improvement for pedestrians;
- pedestrianise the High Street - this would increase traffic problems on other residential roads, and was not favoured by town traders;
- ‘do nothing’ - most people did not support this option.
Q: Will lorries be diverted onto other town roads?
A: The proposed weight restriction is intended to divert HGV through-traffic onto Western Way. The situation will be monitored, and if HGVs start using residential roads (e.g. Queensway), then a weight restriction could be considered here too.
Q: Is there enough room for lorries in the new junction layout?
A: The layout was tested using a computer simulation of a lorry’s turning movement, which showed that there is sufficient width for the largest articulated lorries to turn into Church Street without overhanging the footway. Moreover, reduced road widths will encourage slower speeds through the junction, increasing safety for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Q: Will lorry unloading still take place outside Woolworths?
A: HGVs will still be allowed access for deliveries to High Street premises.
Q: What is proposed for the Market Place (Phase Two)?
Proposals for the Market Place will be the subject of public consultations in the autumn. However, progress to Phase Two will depend on progress with Phase One.
Your Comments
If you have any comments on the Phase One proposals for the High Street / Church Street junction, please write to:
Robert Gallagher, Parkman Ltd., County Hall Campus, Trowbridge, BA14 8JQ.
An online forum is available on this site for you to post your general views on the scheme. Please note that writing to the above address is the official route to respond to these proposals.
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