Improvements to Church Street/Union Street in Trowbridge starting soon

During this period, temporary traffic signals will be installed to manage traffic safely. The works will predominantly take place during the daytime and are anticipated to be completed by mid-January 2023.

This is the first of five town centre accessibility improvement schemes being funded from the £16 million investment in Trowbridge town centre via the government's Future High Streets Fund. The aim is to improve the ease and safety of pedestrian crossings as well as improve walking and cycling routes in five key locations in the town centre.

The scheme involves removing the current traffic signals at the junction. This provides an ideal opportunity to carry out improvements to the public space in this area offering a more attractive route for pedestrians who use this key route into the town centre from developments to the north and the Church Street Car Park.

The junction falls within a conservation area where many listed buildings, including St James Church, are located. The proposed scheme will also improve the setting for these key historic features.

Further improvements being made include widening the footpaths on Union Street and Church Street, along with an informal crossing on Church Street outside of St James Church and a pedestrian refuge island crossing facility on Church Street close to Church Street Car Park.

The footpaths will be resurfaced with paving slabs and kerbing renewed to match the existing arrangements in Church Street near to the Vergers Cottages. Some signage and street furniture will be removed to tidy up the area and make it more accessible, and the street lighting will be improved with heritage style lighting being used throughout.

An area will also be provided outside of St James Church to accommodate wedding and funeral cars.

The widening of footpaths on Church Street means that some changes to the existing parking arrangements are needed. This will see the existing parking bay moved further into Church Street, with some changes to disabled parking including extending the time allowed for parking in the disabled bay from 2 hours to 3 hours.

These changes were subject to legal consultation held during August and September 2022 as part of the Traffic Regulation Order process.

Wiltshire Council will work closely with the town council, local traders and the church to ensure disruption in the lead up to the festive period is minimised. All local amenities in this area will remain open and accessible during the construction period.

Further information regarding the phasing of the works will be made available on Wiltshire Council's website shortly.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding, said: "We're really pleased that the first of these five schemes to improve walking and cycling access in and around the town centre will be starting soon. We appreciate there will be some disruption, but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum wherever possible.

"One of our key priorities is to create vibrant and well-connected communities so we are aiming for the remaining four schemes to come forward in phases next year. These include Wicker Hill and Hill Street junction, including part of Fore Street, the Manvers Street and Church Street junction, Castle Street and Roundstone Street."

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Towns Fund - Future High Streets Fund

The Future High Streets Fund aims to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

In total, 72 places will share up to £831 million from the Future High Streets Fund to help them recover from the pandemic by improving transport links, building new homes and transforming underused spaces.

Applications were invited for the Government fund, and Trowbridge was one of 100 towns shortlisted. In December 2020, Wiltshire Council was provisionally awarded £16,347,056 for Trowbridge. In May 2021 this funding was formally awarded.