Local people invited to give their views on Church Street / Union Street junction improvements

Local residents and businesses are invited to give their views on the proposed improvements to the road network and public realm at the junction of Church Street and Union Street in Trowbridge.

This is the first of five pedestrian and cycling improvement schemes to come forward as part of the £16 million investment in the 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 proposals involve the removal of the traffic signals at the Church Street and Union Street junction which have come to the end of their serviceable life and are also no longer needed to manage the traffic flow following the opening of County Way. Their removal provides an ideal opportunity to carry out improvements to the public space in this area providing 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 improve the setting for these key historic features as well as improving the facilities for pedestrians accessing the town centre.

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 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 to parking arrangements require a traffic regulation order. This is subject to legal consultation and all interested parties may comment on the proposed parking changes either by visiting the council's website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/troconsultations where further information is provided, or by emailing trafficorderconsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window), quoting LJB/TRO/TROW6.

Notices will also be posted on street furniture on Church Street providing information on the proposed changes and how to comment. 

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Street Scene and Flooding, said: The proposed improvements to the Church Street and Union Street junction will complement the other four proposed schemes, which aim to improve the pedestrian arrival points and access to the town centre.​ The four locations include Wicker Hill and Hill Street junction, including part of Fore Street, the Manvers Street and Church Street junction, Castle Street and Roundstone Street.

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.

We would encourage anyone who has any comments on the parking changes or the wider proposed Church Street and Union Street junction scheme to have their say through the Traffic Regulation Order process asap.

If the scheme is approved, then the improvement works could start later this year.

The consultation period closes on Monday 19 September 2022.