Byway Restrictions made permanent

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When Wiltshire Council decided to make the byway that runs from St George’s Road to Hilperton into a cycle route, the result was that a rough track (often narrow and rutted) became a smooth surface.  One outcome of this was that cars and vans were able to travel along it at speed, and so they did.  This resulted in walkers, horse-riders – and ironically cyclists – being vulnerable, and there were many confrontations.  The parish council warned Wiltshire Highways that this would happen, but no one listened.  As a result non-vehicle use of the byway was much reduced.

Following many complaints from the parish council and individual parishioners about this dangerous traffic on the byway, and after valuable interventions from Wiltshire Cllr Jonathon Seed, Wiltshire Council set up an experimental traffic restriction order [ETRO] on the byway.  This came into effect on May 20th 2024 and there was a six month period during which comments could be made.  The consultation ended 11 months ago on November 20th 2024.  In total, there were sixty-nine comments.  Six of these objected to the restrictions and 63 were in favour of banning traffic.

Today came notification that the restrictions have been made permanent.  The decision note is here.  This is welcome news.

There are some points in all this that are worth noting:

  1. although pedestrian, equestrian and bicycular use of the byway will now be safer than before it will not be completely safe because it’s likely that a few rogue drivers will continue to chance their arm even though doing so is illegal.  There will also be continuing legal agricultural and commercial use of the route, although all the evidence is that this tends to be responsible and courteous.
  2. it was only because of persistent pressure on Wiltshire Council from parishioners and the parish council that this has happened.  Initial pressure came in the form of reports of dangerous encounters with vehicles and this was followed by a very good response to the consultation.  Those 63 responses were absolutely vital in getting this outcome.  Many thanks to everyone who did this.
  3. Wiltshire Councillors can work inside the bureaucratic system in ways that we lay folk have no access to, and our Wiltshire Councillors supported us well in all this: a particular mention here for our ‘new’ Cllr Andrew Griffin who helped get this over the line.
  4. it was only because of an FoI request by a parishioner that we knew what the consultation responses were.  Wiltshire Council did not tell us anything despite indications that they would.
  5. although it remains commonplace to complain that Wiltshire Council is a remote organisation that never listens and so there’s no point in protesting, our recent experience runs counter to this.

Our thanks to everyone who made this outcome possible.

Rights of Way clearing

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Thanks to the volunteers who cleared local footpaths recently.  The following have had their Spring Strim and are now clear and walkable:

  • SEMI 10 from the Byway [SEMI 9] to the A361.  You can then walk through to Little Marsh on SEMI 10
  • SEMI 39 and GHIN 4 from the A361 to the A350.  This links with GHIN 3 which goes to Little Marsh
  • GHIN6 from the old A350 through to the other side of the new A350 which will take you to Great Hinton

Heroic stuff.

 

A detailed map showing roads and pathways in pink, blue, and green lines with numbered markers. Several buildings, fields, and roundabouts are labeled throughout the area.

Countryside Access Improvement Plan

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There are more than 3,700 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways in Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council is developing a Countryside Access Improvement Plan to improve access and use.   It would like our help in doing this.  You can complete the survey here.

 

Little Marsh to St. George’s Part 2

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We wrote about a circular walk from Little Marsh to St George’s the other day.  There is another slightly longer route.  To get to this, you walk south past Little Marsh to the end of the old A350 and then follow GHIN 3 to where it meets SEMI 39.  Turning right along SEMI 39 takes you, after crossing the A361, north-west to the Byway [ SEMI 9 ] and onto St George’s.  This follows the parish boundary for a large part of its route.

Much of this has recently been mowed – our thanks to whoever did this – and is now clear as these pictures show:

Please walk it!  It looks sheltered from the icy north winds.

Last Chance to Comment

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Last Summer, Wiltshire Council set up an experimental traffic restriction order on the byway that runs from St George’s Road to Hilperton.  This restricts vehicular traffic until November 20th 2024 – next Wednesday.

The Parish Council has had reports that inappropriate car & van traffic is now much reduced and that villagers are once again using the byway in greater numbers.  If this is your experience please write to trafficorderconsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk to say so.  Here’s an example of something sent recently:

I am writing to comment on the difference that the experimental traffic restriction order on Semington byway SEMI 9A / HILP 22 has made since its introduction in May 2024.
 
I think that this has been a complete success for two reasons: [1] the amount of vehicular traffic flowing onto and from St George’s Road Semington has been hugely reduced from its pre-introduction levels, and [2] proper usage of the by way by walkers, cyclists and horse riders has increased as villagers have grown in confidence that they won’t be confronted by huge vehicles travelling far too quickly.
 
In saying this I draw not only on my own experience of using the byway for walking and cycling, but also on evidence provided by other villagers and at Parish Council meetings.
 
To maximise continuing, proper safe use of the byway, I am convinced that the Order needs to be made permanent as soon as possible.

It is important that we make our voices heard if this change is to be made permanent.

…………………………………………………

And here’s a reminder that Wiltshire Council would like us all to report incidents of inappropriate use of the byway.  These need to be sent to Wiltshire Police via their on-line reporting tool, to Wiltshire Council via integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk and to the Parish Council at byway@semingtonparish.gov.uk

Ideally, the data needed are:

  • Date / time
  • Location
  • Registration number
  • Speed – ok or too fast
  • Whether there was any danger to other users, or any altercation between users

 

Walking from Little Marsh to St George’s

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For a while now, walking from Little March to St George’s Road has not been possible because the SEMI 10 right of way has been impassable.  This was cleared at the weekend by the parish rights of way group and so this circular walk is now open:

  • from Little Marsh to the A361 along SEMI 12
  • from the A361 along SEMI 10 to the SEMI 9 byway
  • along the byway to St George’s Road and the High Street to Little Marsh.

Here are before & after pictures:

Please do walk this route; the more of us that do it, the easier it will be to keep open.  This is one of a number of circular walks around the three parish settlements and it’s a parish council priority to keep these open.

If you’d like to join the parish rights of way group please let us know; we guarantee good exercise and conversation.  There are no age limits and we’ll train you in the safe use of our brush fearsome cutter.

Footpath to Whaddon open again

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This morning, the parish footpaths group cleared four stiles and two bridges over field drains along the SEMI 1 right of way to Whaddon.  This route is now completely open from the Pound Lane swing bridge to Whaddon Grove Farm, but care is needed on one of the bridges as one of the support rails needs replacing.  It’s been reported.

Before and after pictures are attached.  If you’d like to join the group – good exercise and conversation guarantied  – just use the website contact page – where PRoW issues can also be reported.  We’ll look forward to welcoming you.

Commenting on the use of the byway

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Last Summer, Wiltshire Council set up an experimental traffic restriction order on the byway that runs from St George’s Road to Hilperton.  This restricts vehicular traffic until November 20th 2024.

The Parish Council has had reports that inappropriate car & van traffic is now much reduced and that villagers are once again using the byway in greater numbers.  If this is your experience please write to trafficorderconsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk to say so.  Here’s an example of something sent recently:

I am writing to comment on the difference that the experimental traffic restriction order on Semington byway SEMI 9A / HILP 22 has made since its introduction in May 2024.
 
I think that this has been a complete success for two reasons: [1] the amount of vehicular traffic flowing onto and from St George’s Road Semington has been hugely reduced from its pre-introduction levels, and [2] proper usage of the by way by walkers, cyclists and horse riders has increased as villagers have grown in confidence that they won’t be confronted by huge vehicles travelling far too quickly.
 
In saying this I draw not only on my own experience of using the byway for walking and cycling, but also on evidence provided by other villagers and at Parish Council meetings.
 
To maximise continuing, proper safe use of the byway, I am convinced that the Order needs to be made permanent as soon as possible.

It is important that we make our voices heard if this change is to be made permanent.

…………………………………………………

And here’s a reminder that Wiltshire Council would like us all to report incidents of inappropriate use of the byway.  These need to be sent to Wiltshire Police via their on-line reporting tool, to Wiltshire Council via integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk and to the Parish Council at byway@semingtonparish.gov.uk

Ideally, the data needed are:

  • Date / time
  • Location
  • Registration number
  • Speed – ok or too fast
  • Whether there was any danger to other users, or any altercation between users

 

Please comment on the use of the Byway

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In May, Wiltshire Council set up an experimental traffic restriction order on the byway that runs from St George’s Road to Hilperton.  This restricts vehicular traffic until November 20th 2024.

The Parish Council has had reports that inappropriate car & van traffic is now much reduced and that villagers are once again using the byway in greater numbers.

If this is your experience please write to trafficorderconsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk to say so.  Here’s an example of something sent this week:

I am writing to comment on the difference that the experimental traffic restriction order on Semington byway SEMI 9A / HILP 22 has made since its introduction in May 2024.
 
I think that this has been a complete success for two reasons: [1] the amount of vehicular traffic flowing onto and from St George’s Road Semington has been hugely reduced from its pre-introduction levels, and [2] proper usage of the by way by walkers, cyclists and horse riders has increased as villagers have grown in confidence that they won’t be confronted by huge vehicles travelling far too quickly.
 
In saying this I draw not only on my own experience of using the byway for walking and cycling, but also on evidence provided by other villagers and at Parish Council meetings.
 
To maximise continuing, proper safe use of the byway, I am convinced that the Order needs to be made permanent as soon as possible.

 

It is important that we make our voices heard if this change is to be made permanent.

…………………………………………………

And here’s a reminder that Wiltshire Council would like us all to report incidents of inappropriate use of the byway.  These need to be sent to Wiltshire Police via their on-line reporting tool, to Wiltshire Council via integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk and to the Parish Council at byway@semingtonparish.gov.uk

Ideally, the data needed are:

  • Date / time
  • Location
  • Registration number
  • Speed – ok or too fast
  • Whether there was any danger to other users, or any altercation between users

 

Bad Actors on the Byway

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Despite the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order preventing motor vehicles (except for access) from using the St George’s Road byway, drivers continue to use it putting horse riders, cyclists and walkers at risk.

The Parish Council asks everyone to report any use of the byway by motor vehicles violating the Order.  These need to be sent to Wiltshire Police via their on-line reporting tool, to Wiltshire Council via integrated.transport@wiltshire.gov.uk and to the Parish Council at byway@semingtonparish.gov.uk

Ideally, the data needed are:

  • Date / time
  • Location
  • Registration number
  • Speed – ok or too fast
  • Whether there was any danger to other users, or any altercation between users