Salisbury city centre pedestrianisation scheme begins next month

Parts of Salisbury City Centre will prioritise pedestrians and cyclists from October 21st, as vehicle use will be restricted.

Some roads will only be allowed to be used by permitted vehicles as they try to create a "Low Traffic Zone" (LTZ).

Catherine Street, New Canal, Queen Street, Blue Boar Row, Bridge Street, High Street, Minster Street and part of Castle Street will be closed to non-permitted vehicles.

Vehicles with access include:

• Buses/coaches

• Taxis

• Bicycles

• Vehicles loading or unloading

• Blue Badge holders

• City Centre residents with a permit

The scheme will be fully monitored for 18 months, with 47 sensors providing anonymous data on vehicle and pedestrian movements within the LTZ.

Access to the zone will be managed by vehicle number plate recognition cameras with residents and businesses needing to apply for free permits.

They can do so by visiting wanttopark.com/Wiltshire.

Anyone without a permit that enters the zone will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice.

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:

"It's great news that work on People Friendly Salisbury is starting in the next few weeks, and that the scheme will be in place before half-term week.

We have listened to people's comments on this scheme, and made adaptations where necessary, and we will continue to do so. The project is subject to an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and as such, people can make comments throughout the first six months of the scheme, and we can make changes based on feedback and our own monitoring of it.

The scheme will cut through traffic in the city centre, improving air quality and prioritising pedestrians and cyclists. We hope it will also bring positive increases on the numbers of visitors and shoppers to the city, and a reduction in shop vacancy rates, as we have seen in similar projects around the country.

For the scheme to be a success, it's also important that people making short journeys through the city consider whether they could walk or cycle for those short trips, as this can have a positive effect on their health, and help to improve the city environment.

Thanks to a further £1.3m of funding from Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), we can now develop and deliver an additional range of accompanying measures in the city centre, including new hireable ebikes, bike parking and maintenance stations, more seating and greenery, and improvements for pedestrians - and these will help people to make the choice to walk or cycle easier and more enjoyable."

These are final plans for the People Friendly Salisbury project, which have changed since the original suggestions.

Following public feedback, two areas, part of Castle Street and Endless Street, were removed from the scheme.

As well as the £1.3m in SWLEP funding for measures to accompany this project, a further £6m has been awarded to the Salisbury River Park project, a joint scheme with the Environment Agency to help reduce the flood risk to various areas in the city and improve leisure and recreational uses, as well as ecology and biodiversity enhancements.

For more about the People Friendly Salisbury project, visit Wiltshire Council's website.