Town council stands up for ‘overlooked’ Westbury

WESTBURY Town Council has said that it is "disappointed" that the town has not been considered for road or cycle route improvements.

The town council has criticised Wiltshire Council for pushing forward with other improvement schemes in the county, leaving Westbury behind feeling 'less worthy'.

"We would respectfully point out that no town within Wiltshire has had a higher percentage increase in building than Westbury and the corresponding spending on associated infrastructure has been zero," said the town council in response to claims by Wiltshire Council that Chippenham needs a new distributor road to support its increasing size.

The town council has also criticised the allocation of £2million to make cycle way improvements to Chippenham's railway station, overlooking Westbury's ongoing needs.

"Wiltshire officers have stated one of the difficulties within Westbury is pedestrian and cycle access to the station," explained the town council in a letter, "but apparently unworthy of any scheme or funding."

The town council's letter also highlights Westbury's ongoing issues with air quality and traffic congestion and states that the town is still waiting for any proposal from Wiltshire Council to alleviate this.

As reported in the White Horse News last year, Westbury will have to wait until at least 2025 for news about plans for a Westbury A350 bypass, when Wiltshire Council intends to bid for government funds to make 'improvements' to the A350.

The town council's letter - which was sent in response to Wiltshire Council's 'Future Chippenham consultation that is exploring route options for a new distributor road - in full said, "Westbury Town Council have no comment on the plans relating to Chippenham in the consultation document but look forward to the time when they will be asked to comment on traffic proposals concerning Westbury itself.

"We again express our disappointment that other nearby towns are suggested as being worthy of traffic schemes when Westbury is still awaiting any proposal to alleviate air pollution and congestion within the town.

"The money allocated by central government has been allocated after submissions by the unitary authority who could have displayed greater vision and ambition at a time when government have declared the intention to pursue large infrastructure projects.

"There could have been a submission to include the A350 through Westbury and it is disappointing that opportunity was not considered when the bid was prepared.

"It is stated that Chippenham needs this road due to it having had large infrastructure developments that require road improvements, but we would respectfully point out that no town within Wiltshire has had a higher percentage increase in building than Westbury and the corresponding spending on associated infrastructure has been zero.

"In addition, Westbury has had a long-standing Air Quality Management area in the middle of the town, in a residential area.

"It is difficult to understand the disparity in resources allocated when popular expression seems to state that the Chippenham scheme is unpopular and unwanted by residents and its MP.

"Although not part of the scheme, we note that Chippenham has been allocated £2million towards cycleways to the railway station when Wiltshire officers have stated one of the difficulties within Westbury is pedestrian and cycle access to the station, but apparently unworthy of any scheme or funding.

Town council stands up for 'overlooked' Westbury | White Horse News