NO plans to reintroduce the ETRO, and a push for a bypass.

That's the message to Salisbury from Wiltshire Council's new leader and one of his Cabinet members.

Leader Richard Clewer and Cllr Mark McClelland, Cabinet member for transport, have both told the Journal that a bypass for the city is high-up on the new-look council's agenda.

Cllr McClelland says a key focus of the next four years will also be improving the condition of pavements.

Bypass on the agenda

Salisbury Journal: Cllr Richard Clewer Cllr Richard Clewer (Image: Wiltshire Council)
 
Cllr Clewer said: "We need to think about how changes we bring in in Salisbury city centre would impact the ring roads and the traffic outside the city.
 
"I have been and will continue to be speaking to Highways England about improvements that could be made to the A36.
 

"In the long term, a bypass, yes, but that’s very much the long term, and we need improvements before that.

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

'Talented team of people'

Salisbury Journal: Wiltshire Council's new Cabinet Wiltshire Council's new Cabinet

Talking about his new Cabinet, which was revealed on Tuesday May 18, Cllr Clewer said: "It is a younger cabinet than in previous years but that’s not why I chose them.

“I’ve picked a talented team of people as my Cabinet and Portfolio Holders and we’re all looking forward to working with the council’s leadership team and officers to help achieve our collective vision."

Included in the Cabinet is Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, who represents Salisbury St Francis and Stratford and was previously a city councillor.

He is cabinet member for transport, waste, street scene and flooding, and has long campaigned for a bypass.

'Any future measures will need to be widely consulted on'

Salisbury Journal: Cllr Mark McClellandCllr Mark McClelland (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Cllr McClelland reiterated what Cllr Clewer said on Tuesday, in that the council has no plans to reintroduce the ETRO/Low traffic zone, and added that "any future measures will need to be widely consulted on".

He said: “It is a huge honour and responsibility to be asked by Richard Clewer to join the cabinet of Wiltshire Council, especially covering such an important brief in transport, waste and flooding.

"Before being elected, I spent much of the past year campaigning on a bypass for Salisbury, and for our congestion problems to be moved higher up the political agenda.

"I will be meeting with Highways England officials as soon as possible to make the case again for this. Alongside this long-term issue, we also need to explore what measures can be taken sooner to alleviate congestion – particularly on Southampton Road and Churchill Way."

The newly-elected councillor added that any future measures to boost walking, cycling and public transport will need to be "widely consulted on and carefully calibrated to ensure they do not have a negative impact on congestion on major routes through the city".

A key focus will also be improving the condition of pavements, he says.

"We particularly need to make it safer for the elderly and disabled to walk around their communities," he added.

For more information on the cabinet appointments, click here. 

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