Work to start on trial to open Calne High Street to vehicles one way
Wiltshire Council is starting the work to reopen Calne High Street to vehicles one way, south from Wood Street to Curzon Street.
Wiltshire Council is starting the work to reopen Calne High Street to vehicles one way, south from Wood Street to Curzon Street. The work, which is expected to last around four weeks, will start on 13 January.
The trial change aims to improve traffic flow and air quality in Calne, particularly on The Square, where traffic often queues.
The project will be carried out under an experimental temporary traffic order (ETRO). This allows the changes to be in place for up to 18 months, giving the council time to assess the trial before deciding whether to make the scheme permanent or revert the street to its current pedestrian-only use. Throughout the ETRO period, the council will collect feedback from the community, and these comments will play a key role in shaping the final decision.
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: We want to improve the air quality in Calne and also help to relieve some of the traffic issues in the town, which is why we're trialling the opening of High Street to traffic, one way from north to south.
This trial will last for up to 18 months. During that time, we'll analyse the data, the impact on the local highway network and the feedback from the local community before deciding on the scheme's future.
Work will start on 13 January for around four weeks, and once the experimental temporary traffic order becomes live, I encourage residents to share their views to help us confirm next steps. This may mean refining or adapting the scheme.
As outlined in our Business Plan, we are committed to creating well-connected communities and taking responsibility for the environment, and we hope this trial will improve both air quality and traffic flow in Calne.
When the trial scheme is operational, traffic heading south from Wood Street will proceed along High Street and turn left on to Curzon Street. Vehicles exiting High Street will only be able to turn left. Traffic heading west from Wood Street on to The Square will need to turn right at the mini-roundabout on Curzon Street and then head west along the A4.
As part of this experimental approach, the council will install tarmac down the centre of High Street for vehicles and place temporary physical barriers on either side of the road to ensure pedestrian safety. Disabled parking spaces currently located on High Street will be temporarily relocated to Wood Street. Tree planters will be relocated to the footways or other suitable areas in the town.
Once the ETRO has been published, it will be available for people to comment on at Traffic Regulation Order consultations.