Issue - meetings

 Report of the Chief Executive to follow.

Cllr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding introduced the report reviewing the response to the public consultation on the options for the A350 Melksham Bypass scheme and the further assessment work recently undertaken, and to approve further consultation on a short list of options.

The Cabinet received questions from Janet Giles, Andrew Nicolson and Alan Baines in relation to this report. In addition, Andrew Nicolson and Alan Baines read out statements at the meeting. A copy of the statements are available to read in an updated agenda supplement 2 on the Council’s website here.

Supplementary questions were received from Andrew Nicolson about the urgency claims for the new bypass and potential for new employment opportunities.  In responding to the supplementary questions, Cllr McClelland and Cllr Richard Clewer explained that (i) the Council’s Transport Strategy encourages modal shift, however the Council needed to be realistic, especially in relation to the transport options for rural communities. Cllr McClelland also highlighted the Governments priority to improve links to the south coast and M4, with the A350 being key to this priority; and (ii) in referring to the national transport strategy, evidence indicates that investment in transport helps the economy of the country.

Questions were also submitted by Charmian Spickernell in relation to this report, although they were received after the deadline for  questions. Cllr Clewer explained that all questions had received a written response which were published prior to the meeting in Agenda Supplement 2 on the Council’s website here.

Cllr McClelland reported that the A350 Melksham Bypass is a Large Local Major scheme which has been awarded development funding by the Department of Transport (DfT) to take it to Outline Business Case stage. It would be a major improvement to the important A350 route which provided vital transport links between the M4, the towns of western Wiltshire and the south coast. A range of options for the scheme were the subject of a public consultation earlier in the year and these had helped to develop the scheme further, in order to prepare a short list of options for further consultation.

Cabinet noted that a sifting process has been undertaken to identify the most suitable options for further consultation.  In addition to the most suitable options, the report detailed the reasons why certain routes were discounted.

Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group highlighted the need for positive mitigation measures to be employed and for an effective consultation to take place which was reflective of the wishes of the local community.

Cllr Jon Hubbard expressed surprise that the report only highlighted one option for further consultation, giving the impression that a decision had already been made and that future contributions may not be takin into account. He felt that issues if congestion will remain, although pollution levels will be eased due to new technologies being introduced for vehicles.  He asked if the proposal to explore the possibility of improving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8