ALL PARTIES CO-OPERATE TO EASE MARLBOROUGH TRAFFIC PROBLEMS

Marlborough’s traffic problems looked closer to being eased this afternoon as MP Claire Perry met with representatives from Marlborough Town Council, Wiltshire Council and Marlborough Retail Forum to discuss the situation.

Chairman of Marlborough Retail Forum Chris Birkett, Marlborough Town Councillors Rich Pitts and Martin Houlden, Director for Strategic Services (Highways and Passenger Transport) for Wiltshire Council Parvis Khansari, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways Dick Tonge and Helen Powdrill who is managing the Pewsey Road Bridge project were all present at the meeting at Claire’s office in the High Street.

Following the meeting the group made their way to the Pewsey Road Bridge where they met with contractors.

The announcement at the Marlborough Area Board Meeting on Tuesday that Wiltshire Council would know whether or not the bridge could be re-opened in the run up to Christmas at the end of September was reaffirmed. In addition it was agreed that signage would be further improved.

Wiltshire has also agreed to train up an existing member of staff at St. Peter’s to act as a lollipop person at peak times on the London Road zebra crossing to alleviate the additional congestion caused by the constant flow of children crossing to and from the school. This move was suggested by Councillor Pitts at the area board meeting.

This follows the news that things should improve to some extent soon with the completion of the Kingsbury Street work, and that Marlborough Town Council is providing FREE PARKING on a section of the common.

Those who attended the meeting this afternoon said it had been extremely useful, with all parties working together to improve a difficult situation.