| Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/4202 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Thursday, 8th March 2007 Where ever practical, I use the train or bus .... but I didn't have time to wait for the train up from Westbury to Trowbridge then the bus into Melksham this morning (and I wasn't going to wait for the next train at 19:35), so I drove. The A350 which parallels the railway from the M4 near Chippenham down past Westbury to Warminster was never built to take heavy modern traffic. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/4204 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 8th March 2007 [quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=1568.msg4202#msg4202 date=1173363805] We don't hear very much about those paritcular jams, but we DO hear a lot about Westbury, on the same road. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5287 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 17th May 2007 The lates news on the Westbury bypass: http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.1402867.0.councillors_support_33m_bypass_plan.php Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5318 Written by Lee on Friday, 18th May 2007 An FOI request has been published regarding this (link below.) http://www.dft.gov.uk/foi/responses/2007/may2007/a350westburybypass/ Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5652 Written by Nick Field on Wednesday, 13th June 2007 i have found another useful website with lots of information about the Wesbury Bypass: http://www.westbury-wilts-bypass.info/index.html Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5748 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 19th June 2007 A 3 - day exhibition will be held at the Laverton in Westbury later this month giving people the chance to look at aerial maps of the proposed Westbury bypass. (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.1479828.0.westbury_bypass_plans_to_go_on_show.php Wiltshire County Council and West Wiltshire District Council are jointly hosting the three-day event which runs from Thursday June 28 to Saturday June 30. Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe , cabinet member for environment , transport and economic development , said: "The bypass will represent a most significant change for Westbury and this exhibition is a real chance for everyone to find out more about this very important project." "As well as getting the chance to talk to people directly involved in the project, people visiting the exhibition will get the chance to have their say about the improvements on the way forward for their town." Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5765 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 20th June 2007 Does the rejection of the Stockport bypass bode ill for Westbury's chances? (link below.) http://www.transport2000.org.uk/news/maintainNewsArticles.asp?NewsArticleID=388 Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/5858 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Sunday, 24th June 2007 It's far from clear to me whether or not the Westbury bypass will bring the benefits that its advocates are suggesting; I remain concerened that it will (if built) simply move the conjestion north to Yarnbrook, North Melksham and Beanacre - worsening the conditions there by accellerating traffic past Westbury and encouraging extra traffice from the A36 traffic via Bath, and other routes, onto the A350. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/6377 Written by Nick Field on Thursday, 19th July 2007 Interesting letter from the Wiltshire Times Website: http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/wiltshiretimesletters/display.var.1544036.0.hgv_threat.php Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/6387 Written by Lee on Friday, 20th July 2007 [quote author=Nick Field link=topic=1568.msg6377#msg6377 date=1184860336]Interesting letter from the Wiltshire Times Website: http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/wiltshiretimesletters/display.var.1544036.0.hgv_threat.php[/quote] Quote from Nick's link : "following an exchange of letters between themselves and Wiltshire County Council, an agreement had been reached by the two authorities that once the East of Westbury Bypass was constructed, the A350 could be used as a bypass for Bath" See following quote : [quote author=Lee link=topic=495.msg1456#msg1456 date=1158420039]This is an interesting achive document (link below.) http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/committee_papers/PTandE/pt001116/23crossbo.htm "5.2 Somerset's Cheddar-Frome corridor strategy (CFCS) envisages developing quality bus partnerships for the Bristol to Wells and Bath to Shepton Mallet routes. The strategy sees the former as being a possible express service operating along the A37 through B&NES and co-ordinated with the existing low floor Bristol to Yeovil service. There may be the potential to link this in some way with a more direct service from Norton-Radstock to Bristol along the same corridor. For the Shepton Mallet- Bath route, which also currently serves Norton-Radstock, the strategy seeks a better link service. Both these future route developments and associated partnerships would complement B&NES LTP objectives." [quote author=Lee link=topic=421.msg1243#msg1243 date=1156084504]One of these alternatives is about to become reality in the form of the Bristol Showcase Bus Routes Scheme (links below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4747277.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/5157322.stm The funding for this scheme is split as follows : DfT Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/6584 Written by courgettelawn on Monday, 30th July 2007 "At what point does "circumstantial evidence" get regarded as something more concrete?" Whenever anyone who feels like it thinks so. Wiltshire have just received the green-light from Hazel Blears on the basis of circumstantial evidence so it is all, as ever in politics, a matter of perception. As for "managing expectations," am I the only one who thinks that at every level of government we are being treated like spoilt children who are told, "you will get what you are given and that too what I think you should be given" ? Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/6586 Written by Lee on Monday, 30th July 2007 [quote author=courgettelawn link=topic=1568.msg6584#msg6584 date=1185788878]As for "managing expectations," am I the only one who thinks that at every level of government we are being treated like spoilt children who are told, "you will get what you are given and that too what I think you should be given" ?[/quote] I think its safe to say that you are not the only one who thinks that. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/8479 Written by Nick Field on Tuesday, 6th November 2007 The subject of whether a Westbury bypass could have a knock on effect further up the A350 has been mentioned (personally I think it will) Interesting then to note that a traffic census is currently being carried out on the Chippenham Western Bypass, with areas coned off at the roundabouts with poloce and highway staff handing out survey cards for drivers to fill in and post. Ironically this has been casuing even more traffic congestion! Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/8481 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 6th November 2007 [quote author=Nick Field link=topic=1568.msg8479#msg8479 date=1194339088] The subject of whether a Westbury bypass could have a knock on effect further up the A350 has been mentioned (personally I think it will) [/quote] Here, from Ruth Kelly's "Sustainable Transport" report published on 30th October (i.e. just last week) is Wiltshire .... zoomed from a national map.  Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/8483 Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 6th November 2007 Here is text to go with that map: Ruth Kelly and the Department for Transport has just published (30th October 2007) their report entitled "Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Supporting Economic Growth in a Low Carbon World", and I took a look at some of its 90 pages. Page 27 includes a diagram showing road conjestion, and I've reproduced a zoomed section here. * Roads shown in red cause an annual total loss of up to 139000 hours per km * Roads shown in Orange cause an annual loss of between 6500 and 28000 hours * And roads shown in blue cause a loss of under 6500 hours per km per annum. (There are no roads on this section with a loss of over 139000 hours per km.) You can see the major North - South traffic flows at the Western end of my map - a fairly clear run up from Salisbury to Warminster, but the two severely overloaded road routes from that area via Bath to the M4 (that's to the left) and via Chippenham to the M4 (that's to the right). The towns of Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster - and Salisbury and Frome too - are slated for major growth with up to 50% more homes in the next 20 years. I undertstand that an agreement bewteen Wiltshire County Council and BaNES (Bath and North East Somerset) will route additional traffic via the right hand leg to relieve the left hand leg once the section at Westbury has been bypassed. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/8491 Written by Nick Field on Tuesday, 6th November 2007 Here is a related link to the traffic survey: http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/chippenhamheadlines/display.var.1812044.0.m4_traffic_census_causes_chaos.php Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/9427 Written by Lee on Monday, 14th January 2008 A coalition of campaigners are calling for the Westbury bypass to be put on hold after a report into regional planning called for the region's transport plans to be re-examined (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.1959502.0.calls_for_bypass_inquiry_to_be_delayed.php The White Horse Alliance, representing objectors to the bypass, says bypass plan cannot proceed in isolation. The alliance says the public inquiry into the controversial road expected to start in May should now be postponed until the government has completed its review of the plan for the region. The report published on Friday tells planners they must develop a new framework for improving public transport across the region. Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/9664 Written by Lee on Saturday, 26th January 2008 A date has been set for the public inquiry into the Westbury Bypass proposal (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.1994283.0.date_set_for_bypass_inquiry.php The inquiry, which is expected start on April 29 and last for 24 working days, is an opportunity for everyone to have their say before an independent inspector submits their recommendation to the secretary of state. It is hoped the inquiry will be held locally, but all the plans can still be seen by visiting www.westburybypass.com Quote from Fleur de Rhe-Philipe : [quote]"The bypass will represent a most significant change for Westbury and the inquiry is a real chance for everyone to have their say about the bypass. "It is extremely pleasing that we are progressing with this much-needed scheme."[/quote] Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/10431 Written by Lee on Thursday, 28th February 2008 A date for the potential construction of Westbury bypass suffered a setback this week as it was announced a public inquiry has been postponed (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.2075071.0.bypass_inquiry_postponed.php The inquiry was due to start on April 29 but solicitors acting on behalf of the White Horse Alliance, who are against an eastern route for the A350 bypass, complained they did not have enough time to prepare. A new date for the public inquiry will be announced at a pre-inquiry meeting on Monday at County Hall in Trowbridge. Interesting quote from Fleur de Rhe-Philipe : [quote="Fleur de Rhe-Philipe"]"No road helps the countryside, but I know that piece of countryside very well, having fallen off my horse on nearly every inch of it. "It's in a valley and won't be seen much or heard much. There are already measures to mitigate any damage the bypass may cause and a lot of the money has been spent to ensure this."[/quote] Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/10448 Written by Pete on Thursday, 28th February 2008 [quote] Senior campaigner Laura Jansen said: "...It does not say much for the scheme that it was not even included in the list of 80 transport schemes for the south west that a panel of inspectors wanted to see progressed. [/quote] [color=Blue]What complete rubbish. The EiP panel report is 517 pages long, I've gone from front cover to back cover and there is NO SUCH LIST. Also, the original Regional Funding Allocation list contains 34 transport schemes, where have the other 46 suddenly appeared from? Pete[/color] Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/12537 Written by Lee on Wednesday, 11th June 2008 King Alfred protests at the bypass plan...... http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/display.var.2333983.0.king_alfred_protests_at_bypass_plan.php Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/12583 Written by Lee on Monday, 23rd June 2008 From Richard George's Campaign for Better Transport blog (link below) : http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/climate_change/roads/blog [quote="Richard George"]Last week I met up with Jenny, a campaigner from the White Horse Alliance, who is trying to stop an unnecessary bypass around Westbury. Their public inquiry has just started, and the group is working hard to stop the bypass getting the green light. The Alliance is part of an amazingly successful coalition of local groups who have fought long and hard to protect their local environment from unnecessary road schemes. By working together they've managed to defeat the Wellow Bypass at the New Forest, the Salisbury Bypass scheme, the Harnham Relief Road, the Wylye Valley and the Codford-Heytesbury road schemes - not bad going! Even getting the inquiry was a struggle - the first date was set at the convenience of the Council, but none of the Alliance's experts could attend. Thankfully their lawyers, Earth Rights Solicitors, managed to persuade the Government's Treasury Solicitors to move the date. Jenny told me that the Council likes the sound of sustainable development - but has gotten a little confused about just what "sustainable" means. According to their planning officer, the bypass is "moving us to a lower carbon economy" - a claim hotly contested by the group's climate change expert, John Whitelegg. Rebecca, my predecessor, worked really closely with the Alliance, helping them raise money and advising them throughout their campaign. Let's hope their hard work pays off, and the scheme is rejected. [/quote] Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/12590 Written by Pete on Tuesday, 24th June 2008 "...trying to stop an unnecessary bypass around Westbury." [color=Blue]Unnecessary to who? Not for the hundreds of people who have to endure 44 tonne lorries just a mere few feet away from their front doors. Pete[/color] Re: Bypass success story - can it be mesaured by the busyness? - 1568/12622 Written by Lee on Tuesday, 1st July 2008 Update on the Westbury bypass inquiry (link below.) http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2367940.0.bypass_inquiry_continues.php link to index of articles |
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham. Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome. The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users. We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can. -- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021 | |||
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