RESIDENTS are being invited to view the revisions to a project to help reduce flood risk and build the city’s resilience to climate change.

As part of a joint initiative by Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency to improve watercourses in central Salisbury, the new additons to the scheme have come about following public feedback.

The project documents say the improvements aim to deliver “vital flood risk mitigation and environmental improvements” to help the city “respond to the climate emergency and improve flood resilience”.

They also say the Environment Agency has invested in new flood risk modelling for the city, adding: “Most areas have seen only minor, if any changes to flood map outlines. However, in some locations flood outlines have increased showing more residential and comercial properties to be at risk.”

This, the documents say, has prompted a range of flood risk mitigation schemes and improvements to be considered. And there is an “opportunity” to deliver this as part of the redevelopment of the Maltings and Central car park site and on land at Ashley Road green space/Fisherton Recreation Ground.

The benefits of the project include flood mitigation risk to properties and the wider city centre; “increasing the environmental value of the rivers and their surroundings” and enhancing biodiversity; improving public access and “enriching the enjoyment” of Salisbury’s rivers; and building climate change resilience.

Three options are being put forward for the Ashley Road green space/Fisherton Recreation Ground.

The plans will be submitted as part of a joint planning application later in the year, which residents will be able to comment on.

A river park running through the middle of the city features in Wiltshire Council’s master plan for the Maltings and Central car park, which was approved in June.

Running alongside this consultation is the final consultation on the Salisbury Central Area Framework (CAF), which will help shape the future of the city centre. Projects proposed include the Fisherton Street gateway, a station quarter at the railway station, and transport accessibility.

The CAF has been amended following public feedback over the summer. The final document will be adopted by the council later this year.

The two public consultations run for six weeks from today until 5pm on February 28. Complete the survey online at wiltshire.gov.uk/salisbury-future, by emailing the survey to futuresalisbury@wiltshire.gov.uk or posting to Future Salisbury, Wiltshire Council, The Council House, Bourne Hill, Salisbury SP1 3UZ.

Two public exhibitions are being held at Salisbury City Hall on Tuesday (January 21) from 2pm to 5.30pm and at the United Reformed Church on Wednesday, January 29 from 2.30pm to 7pm.

Wiltshire Council leader Philip Whitehead said: “I would encourage everyone to have their say through the public consultations and at the exhibitions and help support a vibrant and resilient Salisbury in the future.”

Exhibition boards, the CAF documents and survey will also be available in libraries including Salisbury and Wilton, Downton, and Amesbury and Durrington and Five Rivers leisure centre. Copies will also be available at the Wiltshire Council offices in Bourne Hill.