Bus boss backs 'people friendly' Salisbury plans
The MD of Salisbury Reds has been sharing his thoughts
Wiltshire Council has put forward controversial plans for a 'People Friendly Salisbury' which would see priority given to walkers and cyclists, with some roads closed to most traffic at certain times of the day.
Buses, taxis, tourist coaches, emergency vehicles and blue badge holders would be exempt.
Andrew Wickham, Managing Director of Salisbury Reds' says they 'wholeheartedly support' the scheme:
"Prioritising sustainable modes of transport has the potential to create a pleasant and business-friendly environment. Reducing the number of cars within the centre of Salisbury, allows the better use of existing parking spaces - by creating outdoor dining and helping to regenerate the economy."
Wiltshire Council have been looking at ways to reduce traffic in the city centre since the beginning of last year, but Covid-19 has made them speed up plans to allow increased space for social distancing in the city.
The Council also says that the changes will improve air quality, something Andrew Wickham is keen to support:
"We know that more than 50 percent of the vehicles in Salisbury city centre is through-traffic - with many drivers wishing to avoid the A36.
"This has a negative impact on the city's air quality, and it creates a poor environment for pedestrians and cyclists. It also makes Salisbury less attractive to visitors."
He thinks the changes will also be good news for bus users.
Part of the plans will see the creation of bus gates on the approaches to the city centre. These will stop all unauthorised vehicles from getting into the new 'people friendly' areas.
Andrew believes this, along with all the other changes, will have a big impact, for the good:
"Part of the plan to address this issue is to create bus gates on the approaches to the city centre. This will have a significant and positive impact on bus journey times and will greatly improve timetable reliability.
"These planned measures will lead to a vibrant and characterful city centre to be enjoyed by all those who live, work and visit here. They will also pave the way to a thriving economy and a greener future - by prioritising more environmentally-friendly sustainable transport into Salisbury."
If you want to see all the planned proposals, go to the Wiltshire Council website.