Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Capacity and safety problems continue to worry WCC.
Queues and lengthy (but unpredictable and highly variable) delays are regular during weekdays and weekends and, despite a number of low cost interventions, the safety record is still extremely poor.

WCC has a scheme for both on and off-line improvements that seeks to significantly improve the safety record, reduce congestion and improve journey time reliability.

Early estimates suggest a cost in the order of £17m with possible delivery in 2015. The proposal is an essential component to facilitate growth in Trowbridge which is now classed as a SSCT (Strategically Significant City or Town) in the Regional Spatial Strategy.

So far as Hilperton is concerned, this means that we must ensure that the planners are constantly reminded that Hilperton is NOT a part of Trowbridge and there is plenty of land for the town to expand in a southerly direction rather than towards us.