Decision details

To consider the results of the public consultation on the proposed Countess Road Active Travel Scheme and recommend a way forward.

I approve that the scheme be adjusted based on feedback to the consultation and the Council continues with the design of the cycle route and design and implementation of the toucan crossing.

This decision was published on 29 June 2023 and will come into force on 7 July 2023           

After consideration of the consultation responses, it is felt that many of the concerns of residents can be accommodated with minor adjustments to the scheme or clarification of the design.

Option (ii) will leave the residents of Larkhill without an attractive cycle route into Amesbury (and vice-versa), and not realise the benefits to public health and the economy from tourism. It would not be possible to deliver the circular cycle route around the Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS) proposed as part of the tunnel project.

Option (iii) is not desirable as it is not in line with the aims of the Business Plan.

After consideration of the consultation responses, it is felt that many of the concerns of residents can be accommodated with minor adjustments to the scheme or clarification of the design.

Option (ii) will leave the residents of Larkhill without an attractive cycle route into Amesbury (and vice-versa), and not realise the benefits to public health and the economy from tourism. It would not be possible to deliver the circular cycle route around the Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS) proposed as part of the tunnel project.

Option (iii) is not desirable as it is not in line with the aims of the Business Plan.

The local Wiltshire Council members were presented with the proposed scheme and were happy for a public consultation to take place. Following this approval, a public online consultation survey went live on 4 August 2022 and ran until 26 September 2022. Letters were also sent to all residents along the route.

During the consultation period a total of 115 survey responses and 9 emails were received. There appears to be some duplication of responses with email responders also filling in the online survey. Sixty-three of the responses were from residents along the road with some of these from the same households.