Amesbury cycle scheme delayed after A303 tunnel cancellation
Wiltshire Council's lost some funding for work on Countess Road
The cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project has claimed its first knock-on victim - with a cycle scheme for Amesbury having to be delayed.
Wiltshire Council say it's been a 'difficult decision', based on them losing some funding towards the plans, as a result of the A303 works being scrapped.
The cycleway on Countess Road would have included a new pedestrian crossing, and would help to link the area to the National Cycle Network route 45, connecting Salisbury to Stonehenge.
Active Travel England has allocated funding for the design and construction of the toucan crossing.
Further funding would have been provided as part of the community benefits associated with the A303 Stonehenge tunnel scheme, but now won't be available.
Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transports, said:
“Following the Government’s decision to cancel the A303 Stonehenge project, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone our work on the cycle scheme at Countess Road in Amesbury, including the installation of the pedestrian toucan crossing.
“We could install the toucan crossing now, but because the funding for the rest of the scheme is now uncertain – which is beyond our control – we cannot commit to it at this stage.
“We are reviewing all the local implications following the Government’s announcement and if funding does become available for this cycle path, we have a well-developed scheme ready to take forward once again.
“Following the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project, we are committed to working with our local partners in the area to find solutions to the congestion and rat running suffered by local communities.”