Wiltshire Council new leader shares views on People Friendly Streets

The low-traffic project was indefinitely suspended last year, but after Salisbury City Council voted to support the project, Wiltshire Council had said it would "reconsider" reinstating it in the new year.

Now, councillor Richard Clewer, who was confirmed as the new leader of Wiltshire Council on Tuesday (May 18), has told the Journal that "considerable consultation" is needed before the project can be brought back.

Cllr Clewer also said that he wants to see improvements to the A36, and in the long term, he would push for a bypass.

High streets the number one priority

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council with responsibility for MCI, Economic Development, Heritage, Arts, Tourism and Health and Wellbeing

Immediately after his appointment as leader, Cllr Clewer said the "most important priority is the state of the high street".

He said he wants to do everything possible to help high streets across the county, especially in market towns, of which he considers Salisbury one.

He said: "They have been changing for many years now due to internet shopping, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic, when we all had to shop online for almost everything."

This is not just in terms of shops, and consideration needs to be given to bringing in the arts, entertainment, culture and hospitality.

There are plenty of plans in the pipeline, he says, including apps to help people explore all things big and small across the county – similar to what is in place in the New Forest.

People Friendly Streets

Picture by Spencer Mulholland

Cllr Clewer said small steps can be taken in Salisbury, but there are no immediate plans to bring back People Friendly Streets without another think about how such a policy would work.

He said: "Let's take the pedestrianisation of Queen Street, for one example. I think that could work, but we need to think about how that would tie in to other schemes.

"We also need to think about how changes we bring in in Salisbury city centre would impact the ring roads and the traffic outside the city."

This ties into improvements he'd like to see made to the A36, about which he has already been in contact with Highways England.

He said: "I, like everyone else in the area, sit in traffic on the A36 and see the need for improvements.

"I have been and will continue to be speaking to Highways England about what can and will be done.

"In the long term, a bypass, yes, but that’s very much the long term. We need to tackle it in the short term, too".

Climate emergency remains critical

Cllr Clewer added: "It is a huge honour to be given this responsibility and I’m privileged to lead Wiltshire Council and represent its residents. People can be assured my team and I will work tirelessly to ensure this council delivers for them.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to help Wiltshire recover following COVID-19 and its undoubted impact going forward, but we will support residents and businesses to thrive so that Wiltshire continues to provide opportunities and be a place that people want to live, work, and visit.

“As well as the recovery work, the climate emergency will rightly continue to be at the heart of our decision making.”

For more information on the cabinet appointments, click here. 

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