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The result of a public consultation in 2012 showed that the public were very supportive of a new cycle route between the Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon and out of five suggested route alignments, a preferred option was chosen. The 3km (2 mile) route consists of two sections:
a section along local roads starting at the Interface Business Park in Royal Wootton Bassett and ending to the east of Sally Pussey's Inn on the A3102 Swindon Road;
a section across fields (greenway) starting to the east of Sally Pussey's Inn and ending at the junction of the access road to the Lydiard Fields Business Park and the A3102 Great Western Way in Swindon.
Wiltshire Council and their partners at Sustrans have undertaken both feasibility and design work for the section along local roads, whereas Highways England have been progressing the design of the greenway section. In 2017, Wiltshire Council were successful in their bid to the Highways England Cycling Designated Fund and money for further design development [VC1] has now been secured to take the project forward in partnership with Highways England. Wiltshire Council and Highways England are working together to deliver both sections simultaneously. Land negotiations are in the final stages and it is hoped that the design will be completed in 2021 to enable funding for construction to be secured.
Background
For a number of years there has been a public demand for a safe cycle route between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon. The main driving force behind the proposal came from growing congestion and capacity issues at Junction 16 of the M4. However, the A3102 and Hook Street that link the two towns are busy and hazardous for cyclists, so a new route would help improve safety and encourage more people to travel sustainably. Wiltshire Council, Highways England, Sustrans and Swindon Borough Council have been working hard over a number of years investigating the possibility of a new cycle/pedestrian route between the two towns and have examined a number of options between Royal Wootton Bassett and Windmill Hill Business Park in Swindon. The route alignment shown in the map available in the Royal Wootton Bassett to Swindon download section, is the preferred option that has been chosen following consultation and extensive investigation work.
Aims and objectives
The scheme supports the strategic aims and objectives of economic growth and improved health in Wiltshire as well as meeting the following objectives:
Improve the quality, attractiveness and safety of cycle and pedestrian connectivity between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon
Encourage modal shift from private car use to walking and cycling
Help mitigate a forecast increase in traffic around Junction 16 of the M4 and Royal Wootton Bassett as a result of new development
Reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from traffic
Contribute towards reducing journey times between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon by reducing reliance on private motor vehicles
Improve transport choices between Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon
Reduce high levels of commuting by car.
Other benefits are likely to include improving access to employment, training and social opportunities in Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett, particularly for those within access to a car and a beneficial impact on reducing severance and improving safety.
2002, a petition signed by more than 1000 residents of Salisbury asked for a safe cycle route between Alderbury and Wilton. This resulted in a Wiltshire Council, Sustrans and Highways England investigation into ways of improving the cycle routes and facilities for cyclists, pedestrians and disabled people. In 2007, Wiltshire Council was awarded £150,000 through the Sustrans/National Lottery Connect2 scheme to improve the route. This funding was not sufficient to deliver the whole route and further problems were encountered with landowners unwilling to allow a cycle path on their land. The Connect2 legacy report available in the sidebar explains this programme in more detail and the corresponding map gives an overview of the existing and proposed routes.
What has been delivered so far?
A cycle path to connect Petersfinger Road and the A36 (constructed by Wiltshire Council in 2009)
A cycle path between Wilton roundabout and Park Walls junction (constructed by the Highways Agency in 2011).
An improved pedestrian crossing point at the junction of Wilton Road and Pembroke Road and the conversion of the footpath on Pembroke Road to a cycle path (constructed by Wiltshire Council in 2011).
A crossing on Southampton Road (constructed by the Highways Agency in 2012 with funding from Wiltshire Council).
What we hope to deliver in the future
A cycle path between Park Walls and Skew Bridge. Highways England are investigating the feasibility of this.
A cycle path on Minster street which will require land negotiation, funding and further feasibility work.
A path between Park Walls and Quidhampton which will require funding.
Future development at Churchfields should reduce the number of lorries using Churchfield Road making it a safer alternative to Wilton Road.
A cycle path on the A36 ring road between St Mark's Roundabout and Waitrose. The Highways Agency are investigating the feasibility of this.
Aspects that will be more difficult to deliver
A cycle path between Bourne Way and Petersfinger Park & Ride site as the landowners do not wish to negotiate.
A cycle path between Petersfinger Road and Marshmead Close as some of the landowners do not wish to negotiate.
The council will continue to work with the Highways Agency and Sustrans to find a way to deliver this route.
Wiltshire Council and local communities have an aspiration to create a predominantly off-road cycle route to link Salisbury and Stonehenge in order to:
Provide leisure routes for cyclists, walkers and disabled people.
Improve access to Salisbury and Amesbury for the residents of the Winterbournes.
Improve access from Durrington and Larkhill to Amesbury.
Provide commuter routes for employees at Porton Down, reducing traffic through the Winterbournes.
Encourage more tourists to stay in the Salisbury area and travel to Stonehenge by bike rather than driving.
Encourage tourists to explore the wider Stonehenge World Heritage Site e.g. Woodhenge.
A survey carried out by Winterbourne Parish Council showed that 80% of residents agreed that they want a cycle route to avoid the A338, 80% wanted a cycle route to Salisbury and 50% wanted a better route to Porton Down. There is insufficient verge/pavement width along the A338 to provide a pedestrian/cyclist shared use cycle path.
The current national cycleway route (NCN 45) along the Woodford Valley is an on-road route for leisure and tourism but does not provide for the residents of the Winterbournes, Porton, Gomeldon and Idmiston. As it is on-road, it is also not as attractive to leisure riders or tourists with younger children. The completed route via Porton would provide a circular route with the existing Woodford Valley route. In the longer term, any proposed changes to the A303 would allow for a direct path from Amesbury to Stonehenge, providing circular route around the World Heritage site.
The council has investigated various options in consultation with stakeholders such as businesses at Porton Down, employers and parish councils. The current preferred options are:
Ford to Porton
Porton to Amesbury
Amesbury to Stonehenge
Option designs are available in the downloads area of this page.
A feasibility study has been carried out by Sustrans on behalf of the council looking at the section between Ford and Tanners Lane. This study recommends a new off-road path between Green Lane and Hurdcott. The council is currently investigating the options with landowners and looking to secure funding for the route. Further consultation will take place if a route can be agreed with landowners and funding becomes available. The feasibility study is available in the downloads area of this page.
A feasibility study has been carried out by Sustrans on behalf of Wiltshire Council to look at routes that can be signposted and improved in the short to medium term. The recommended route from Salisbury to Nomansland via Downton is being signposted. Please view the download 'Salisbury to the New Forest' for information about all route progress in this area.
This scheme aims to improve safety for cyclists travelling from the town centre to the rail station through new cyclist/pedestrian shared use paths along Station Road and improved crossing facilities at key junctions.
Design work is expected to take place in 2018.
Wiltshire Council and South West Trains are working together to create a cycle route on Mill Road to improve access to the rail station. We expect to publish designs here in Summer 2018.
Areas proposed for development in the core strategy. The boundaries may not be exact and smaller sites have not been included.
An existing cycle facility that is suitable for less confident cyclists. Some cycle lanes on very busy roads may not be included.
A proposed new route where major improvements are required. The route shown is not necessarily the exact route that will be constructed. Further assessment, initial design work and consultation would be needed to select the most appropriate route design. In some cases the preferred option cannot be achieved e.g. if the council cannot obtain the landowners permission to increase access through their land.
Streets which are suitable for cycling due to low traffic speeds and volumes. In some cases the route may still require further improvements. Many residential streets are likely to be quiet streets, but only key routes are marked.
A street that does not meet 'quiet street' requirements but is still better than an alternative busy route e.g. it might mark a quiet route with a high gradient, very low traffic flows with speeds over 30mph, or medium traffic flows with low speeds.
A public right of way or permissive path that connects to the edge of the network and is legally cyclable, free of barriers and at least 1 metre wide with a good aggregate surface or better. These routes are not key routes on the town cycle networks but may be key rural or leisure routes.
A right of way or permissive path that connects to the edge of the network and is not legally cyclable and/or does not meet the quality criteria described in 'Existing rural link' but has the potential to be upgraded.
This refers to short sections of footway and some footpaths or permissive paths. Cyclists should dismount on these paths. Some landowners may require you to carry your bike on footpaths, particularly in rural areas.
Wayfinding
Wayfinding is how we use directional signs, maps and physical surroundings such as road markings to find our way to the places we want to go. Improved wayfinding in Wiltshire will help to encourage walking, cycling and public transport usage, as well as creating a more pleasant visitor experience for shoppers and tourists.
In the downloads area of this page you can find Wiltshire's wayfinding strategy and the improvement plans we hope to implement when funding is secured.
