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.

When’s the Bus Coming?

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Although around 200 bus stops in Wiltshire have electronic displays showing live departure times, many do not – including all those in the parish.  But now we can access this information directly on a smartphone for every bus stop in Wiltshire, even those without a display.  The system uses real-time data sent from the bus to calculate when it will arrive at your stop, updating each minute. If you see a scheduled time instead of a live countdown, it likely means the bus hasn’t started its journey yet. Try checking again closer to the departure time.

You can search for any bus stop in Wiltshire and even save your regular stops as favourites.  Just click here.

EV Charging in the Parish

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Wiltshire Council Highways recent newsletter invites everyone to suggest locations for EV charging points.  You might recall that the lack of public EV charging points in village was raised during the Neighbourhood Plan consultation.  Here’s the link to the article.

The webpage includes a link to an interactive map that allows users to pinpoint suggested locations. Highways says that data collected will help identify where public demand exists, guiding the development of future, council funded chargepoint installations on public streets, council car parks and buildings such as village halls and community centres.

Every suggestion will be assessed against criteria for new chargepoint sites, including:

  • demand for public EV charging
  • availability of project funding
  • capacity of the local electrical supply
  • local streetscape and street furniture
  • support from the local community
  • local parking rules and habits

Is the X34 bus coming?

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Did you know that you can track the whereabouts of the X34 buses as they travel between Frome and Chippenham?  Just click here.

Analysis of comments about the Byway sent to Wiltshire Council

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The following comments were sent to a parishioner following a Freedom of Information request which asked:

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) is in place on the byways HILP21, HILP22 and SEMI9A which form part of the active travel route between Hilperton and Melksham, and Wiltshire Council has requested feedback from the public during the initial 6-month consultation period which has now ended. My request is this: To receive copies of all feedback from the public and organisations on this ETRO both during the 6-month consultation period and subsequently.

Opposition to making the order permanent

There are 6 objections.  In summary:

The 1st is from a landowner who makes the reasonable point that land-related traffic is not limited to owners but extends to others who also work the land.  They, however, would also have access to the land.

The 2nd poses questions to Wiltshire Council about the basis of the policy and says habitual but occasional users should be allowed to carry on doing so through, so called, grandfather rights.

The 3rd says that access is required by unspecified “local businesses” and by the “less able”.  It pooh-poohs safety issues.

The 4th refers to the “Green Lane Associations” database and argues that there has not been an increase in traffic.  No detail is supplied.

The 5th also comes from a landowner who roundly criticises Wiltshire Council for creating a high-speed surface but seems to miss the point that landowners continue to have access to the track in order to access their fields.

The 6th says that Wiltshire Council created the problem by creating a good surface.  This objection suggests that walkers need not use the Byway because “there are also plenty of clearly marked footpaths in the area …”

Support for a permanent order

The are 63 statements of support.  These, inevitably, contain much repetition as there are only a few points that can be made.  In summary, these are:

  • The resurfacing of the track enabled greater use by motor vehicles which, as a consequence, reduced the use by non-motorised traffic because of safety concerns.
  • Horse rider confidence in using the Byway has been restored.
  • The experimental traffic order was successful as it reduced the number of vehicles using the road and made it safer for other users, although not completely without risk as not all vehicle use was eliminated. It also reduced the intimidation of pedestrians by drivers.
  • Not making the order permanent will increase vehicle traffic and risk and decrease other use which is against Wiltshire’s health-related policies.
  • A locked bollard with keys given to allowed users is suggested to make the order even more effective; as would making the Byway ‘restricted’.
  • Putting a barrier to vehicles on the Devizes Road has increased traffic on the Byway as it is now a much shorter route to Hilperton and Whaddon.
  • In making the order permanent, Wiltshire Council can atone for its mistake in creating a high-speed surface in the first place.
  • The reduction in motorised traffic has allowed nature to reclaim the verges and the rural character of the Byway has been restored.
  • Better signage is needed to alert and put off drivers who are using inaccurate satnavs.
  • As not all through traffic has been eliminated by the order, thought needs to be given to further ways of discouraging usage.
  • Vehicle use of the Byway increases damage to the surface and road edges meaning that more routine maintenance will need to be carried out thus increasing costs.
  • This is a SUSTRANS route, and having significant vehicle traffic on such a narrow track is incompatible with this status.
  • The mental and physical health of Semington and Hilperton parishioners has improved since the order was put in place.

If you have any thoughts on this analysis please contact the Parish Council through the website.

The full response to the FoI request from Wiltshire Council is here.

Bus Gate Background and Update

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We are coming up to the end of the first year of the operation of the bus gate ANPR camera, and we already know that this has generated a significant amount of income: >£54,000  for Wiltshire Council’s parking services account.  Here’s a bit of background about how we got here.

During 2023 and the early part of 2024, Semington PC argued for a camera to be installed as part of its campaign to reduce the illegal traffic flow through the village along the old A350, asking Cllr Seed to pursue this on our behalf through the Area Board and LHFIG, and with Wiltshire Council officers.  This was successful, with the announcement of the decision to fund an ANPR camera made on May 30th 2024.  This said:

“The camera is expected to be installed in June and will become operational shortly afterwards. The Penalty Charge Notice for any unauthorised vehicle ignoring the bus gate will be £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.  … On-going maintenance of the camera will be jointly funded by Wiltshire Council, Semington Parish Council and Melksham Without Parish Council.  … Any surplus income [will be] used to fund the council’s parking services.”

The ANPR camera was installed on June 19th 2024, but operational problems meant that camera only went live on July 16th.  The initial set-up cost was £12,680 with Semington PC contributing  £2,767.75

The annual re-occurring cost of the camera from Year 2 (July 2025 to June 2026) was forecast to be £5,321.00.  Semington PC and Melksham Without PC agreed to contribute £1,000 each, with WC ’s Parking Services funding the remainder of the annual cost (£3,321). This arrangement was to be reviewed at end of Yr2 (ie June 2026).

In an email to Semington PC and Melksham Without PC on February 29th 2024, Martin Rose – WC’s Principal Engineer in the Traffic Engineering Dept – wrote: “If at this point the revenue received from the camera covers the [annual recurring cost], I would make a strong case for Parking services to cover 100% of the future ongoing cost”.

As Martin Rose also noted in March 2024 in an email to Semington PC: “The level of likely revenue is the great unknown.  In theory, if the camera does its job, the revenue in the long term should be relatively small.  I suspect it will be quite high for a few months before the ‘penny finally drops’ at which point it will tail off.”  Some 11 months on, it is not obvious that this has happened but we can expect an end-of-year-one report soon which will itemise transgressions and income.

Looking ahead, it seems prudent to wait for the 12-month data and any move from WC to request the £1000 contribution before making any decision about what to argue, but two possibilities suggest themselves if a substantial revenue stream persists: [i] that recurring costs are fully met from the income; and [ii] that surpluses be shared between WC, MWPC and SPC, say on a 50 / 25 / 25 basis.  If there is to be a future income stream to Semington PC, and we need to justify this, it might seem reasonable to argue for a traffic management measures, for example a speed-alert device.

 We shall see.

£54,705 and counting …

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That’s the amount that the MIN says has been paid in fines by drivers using the old A350 and going through the bus gate.  That’s 1563 drivers paying £35 each time.  That’s a lot of money.

Melksham Without and Semington parish councils have agreed to cover the ongoing running costs of the camera – estimated at £2,000 from next year – unless the income was sufficient to cover these.  The Clerk of Melksham Without Parish Council is quoted:

“That money goes to Wiltshire Council, but from Melksham Without’s point of view and that of Semington Parish Council, we will be arguing next year that we don’t want to contribute to the running costs because it should be being covered by the fines.”

Exactly so.  However, Wiltshire Council’s director of highways and transport, Sam Howell, said, “Money raised by fines for improper use of bus gates is invested back into transport services such as bus provision.”  We’ll let you know how this plays out.

Parking Restrictions proposed on Semington Bridge

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Wiltshire Council is consulting on parking restrictions on the old A350 at Semington bridge.  These arise from concerns that unrestricted parking was making entry and exit to nearby properties unsafe and also that parking near the bridge was making visibility difficult for passing traffic.  A balance has been struck between allowing residents on the Semington side of the bridge to park outside their properties whilst keeping parked vehicles away from the bridge.

The PC discussed this about 15 months ago and we met Highways to discuss what might be done.  Wiltshire Council is now consulting on the proposals.  The PC thinks that what is proposed is ok.

Comments on this proposal, quoting reference LJB/TRO/MELK/SEMI may be made to trafficorderconsultations@wiltshire.gov.uk

Here’s a map:

Map showing Semington Bridge over a river, nearby buildings labeled Wharf Cottage and Bridge House, yellow road lines, and a sign stating "No waiting at any time" along the roadside.

Wiltshire Local Transport Plan

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Wiltshire Council has endorsed the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4). Click here for details. It should be read alongside a study of north – south connectivity which shows the importance of the A350 as far as Warminster. See: M4 to Dorset Coast Strategic Study v3.  This protects places such as Bath, but to the detriment of Melksham and Westbury – and Semington – none of which feature on the map of the route.

New Little Marsh gate

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A replacement for the damaged gate and gate posts in Little Marsh has been ordered by Wiltshire Council. With red and white barrier sections, it will look the same as the gate near the police station – but at 15 feet wide, it will be larger.