Agenda item

To give further consideration to the Board’s response to the Working Group’s report, as considered at the previous meeting on 11 February 2010.

Councillor John Smale introduced the background to this issue, advising that the Working Group’s report had recommended the “de-priming” of the A338 / A346 corridor from Laverstock roundabout in Salisbury, to the M4 Junction 15 near Swindon.  This would allow for weight/width/length restrictions to be placed on the route, with a view to reducing Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) traffic along the route, in turn reducing the environmental impact of such traffic, and improving general safety at certain priority locations along the route.  The decision whether to “de-prime” the route, was one for the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Working Group had sought the support of all four Area Boards along the route to request that Wiltshire Council apply to the DfT on that basis.

The Amesbury Area Board had considered this issue at its previous meeting on 11 February, where concern had been raised that de-priming the A338, would push traffic across onto the A345 through Amesbury.  The Area Board had resolved to give further consideration to the issue in consultation with officers and the Working Group.  As a result of these further discussions, Councillor Smale proposed a motion, which was seconded by the Chairman.  Comments and questions were then invited from the floor:

·         Councillor Smale expressed the view that further consultation should be carried out with affected residents and with the freight industry, prior to any final decision by the Council to apply to the DfT for the corridor to be de-primed.

·         It was noted that, at the meeting on 11 February, and following concerns that de-priming the A338 could see increased traffic on the A345 through Amesbury, reference had been made to the roadworks at Cholderton in the past year which had seen the A338 closed for three weeks.  In relation to this, the view had been expressed that there had been no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, to suggest any displacement of traffic onto the A345 as a result of the temporary closure of the A338, and so this could indicate that de-priming the A338 would not have an excessive impact on the A345.  However, the contrary view was also expressed, that the A345 had seen increased traffic due to the works at Cholderton.

·         In addition, it was also noted that concern had been raised at the meeting on 11 February 2010 regarding the location for the Area Board meeting.  It was suggested that it would have been helpful to hold the meeting in a venue on the route in question, to encourage affected residents to attend.

·         Councillor Smale explained that if an application were to be made for the de-priming of the route, then an alternative route would be required.  The A30 was considered to be the best solution, although this would require works to the St Thomas’ Bridge in Salisbury, which currently was not suitable for use by LGVs.

·         Councillor Charles Howard, representing the Collingbournes and Netheravon division, and a member of the A338/A346 Working Group, commented that the full report was available on the Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council website.

Decision

1.    The Amesbury Area Board supports the conclusions and recommendations of the A338 / A346 Working Group report with the following caveats:

a.    The report’s conclusions relating to the de-priming between Marlborough and Shipton Bellinger be fully supported; and

b.    The A30 be proposed as a possible alternative route to the south of the A303, subject to any required works to the St Thomas’ Bridge, which could partially be funded by Section 106 monies.

2.    The Amesbury Area Board recommends to Cabinet that Wiltshire Council makes an application to the Department for Transport for the corridor road to be de-primed, subject to further work being carried out by officers and full consultation with all relevant stakeholders.