People Friendly Salisbury Support Group "delighted" with city council vote
The controversial scheme was suspended at the beginning of December
Last updated 23rd Dec 2020
The vote to back a motion to support the return of the People Friendly Streets Scheme in 2021 by Salisbury City Councillors has been backed a group of residents. The People Friendly Salisbury Support Group say they are "delighted" that they voted in favour by 12 to 10.
It was indefinitely suspended on December 1st when Wiltshire Council said they felt they could not proceed without the support of the city council.
A motion was put forward by Cllr John Farquhar to support the reintroduction of the scheme next year.
Dr Jimmy Walker from the People Friendly Salisbury Support Group, said:
"I sat in the market square for the first time in 30 years and could hear children playing. I watched people cross the road when they wanted to and look relaxed in the city centre, free from the tiresome noise and pollution of the 50% of cars that were just passing through the city and contributed nothing to the city centre shops. I am really happy that our streets will now be prioritised for pedestrians, the disabled as well as bus and taxi users. What a marvellous result for Salisbury."
Now, Leader of Wiltshire Council Phillip Whitehead has announced that the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership board will revisit the suspension decision in January.
"INADEQUATE SUPPORT"
There has also been a Facebook group set up for people who are against the plans to reintroduce the scheme.
'Save Our Salisbury'****** allows people to publicly discuss their issues with the plans and raise their concerns.
In a post on December 15th, Salisbury businessman Paul Smith said:
"City traders were badly let down during Novichok regarding financial support allocated by Wiltshire Council, they are being badly let down again during Covid-19 by making these current changes now when the city never recovered from Novichok and are now dealing with Covid-19 with very little help from Landlords who still want full rent from it's traders, which is understandable when the Landlords have received no support from the government.
I will not be renewing my lease in the City next year, that decision was made last night when it was evident that our City Council has also lost touch with the current situation.
The city traders are on their knees with inadequate support.
Our city looks ugly with it being nothing better than a giant bus park, how can it ever be people friendly?"
Salisbury City Council Leader Cllr Liz Sirman and Deputy Leader Cllr Simon Jackson, also voted against the project at the extraordinary full council meeting last Monday (14th December).
WHAT DOES OUR MP THINK?
In November, Salisbury MP John Glen called for a suspension of the scheme as it wasn't the right time and he had heard many concerns from the city's businesses.
Mr Glen said he wanted the scheme to return when it suits everyone and has now said he wants it to be revisited next year.
In an open letter to Cllr Phillip Whitehead and the CEO of SWLEP, he said:
"I understand that although there was a very close vote on the ETRO/LTZ at the extraordinary SCC meeting on Monday, nearly all councillors gave their full support to the Central Area Framework and its People Friendly Streets recommendations. I would like to see us revisit this next year and develop a version of People Friendly Streets that is both faithful to the Central Area Framework and commands wider public support than what was implemented in October.
We should be able to put the bitterness and division of the past few months behind us and build a broad, multi-party consensus, listening to all corners of the community."
Our MP has also now had his say on the debate about the £800,000 in SWLEP funding for the complementary measures of the scheme.
He believes that the money shouldn't be scrapped just because the project isn't in place.
He said:
"I do not believe that the almost £800,000 of complementary measures that the SWLEP was funding should be called automatically into question by the suspension of the ETRO. Neither should the bulk of the complementary measures due to be funded from Wiltshire Council. These proposals, perhaps with the exception of the parklets and making the bus gates permanent, are not in any way technically dependent on the ETRO being in place. Indeed, given that the complementary measures are more permanent investments than the LTZ scheme which was only experimental and time-limited, the former could never be said to be contingent on the latter.
The long list of complementary measures in the Full Business Case prepared by Atkins would be significant improvements to Salisbury’s public realm, enhancing the experience for both local residents and visitors alike. It would be difficult for my constituents to understand why the refurbishment of Culver Street car park, an eCycle scheme, shopmobility changes, improvements to walking routes, enhancing bus stops, and additional cycling parking should be dependent on the ETRO being in place."
Here is John Glen's full open letter:
There is no confirmation on the exact date Wiltshire Council will discuss the future of People Friendly Salisbury.