Melksham bypass proposals
The calculations and figures being presented for public comment were calculated in the time before climate change and before coronavirus. The dramatic changes to work, retail and social travel patterns as a result of coronavirus and the decarbonisation targets set by national and local government mean that new traffic flow figures will have to be calculated and a revised submission of a Business Case calculated. Projections for future growth and development would have to be identified and this will depend on the next Treasury Spending Review.
CPRE nationally strongly oppose the government £27Bn budget for new roads, and locally the possible £180m for this bypass.
It seems that the options 10d and 10c are simply creating a justification for packing thousands of houses south of Bowerhill.
One of the many problems would be to take the bypass over floodplains.
Read about Wiltshire Council’s plans for the Melksham bypass here. This also allows you to comment on the Options.
Further information, presented to the Melksham Area Board and other local groups can be found here