From what I can make out from the email I received from Wiltshire Council today, the High Street traffic trial is now likely to become permanent. I say “from what I can make out” because, in true council fashion, the wording is not exactly plain English. Whatever happened to the campaign for clear and simple language?
If you want to read the official wording for yourself, you can view the Traffic Order Consultation.
I will be honest: when this scheme was first discussed with Calne Town Council, I was sceptical. I have still not been fully convinced by the claims around pollution reduction, mainly because there did not appear to be reliable baseline data from before the trial began. Without that, it is difficult to show clearly whether things have improved.
That said, I have to acknowledge what I have seen day to day. Outside the usual rush-hour pinch points, and aside from the disruption caused by the works on the traffic lights at the crossroads, traffic does seem to have flowed better for much of the day.
For me, that is probably the strongest argument for making the change permanent. Even if the evidence on pollution is not as clear as I would like, an improvement in traffic flow is still a practical benefit for people using the town centre.
There are two things that really do need sorting now, one is the appearance of the temporary barriers. The Sonic the Hedgehog-style barriers have done their job, but if this arrangement is here to stay, they need to be replaced with something more permanent, more in keeping with the High Street and that it is in a conservation area.
The other is to find a permanent home for the three trees that are in planters in the High Street, which have spent the last 18 months pushed to one side, next to what was the Kings Arms.
So, what do you think? Has the High Street trial worked for you, or are there still issues that need to be addressed before it becomes permanent, or should it be abandoned and returned to just a pedestrian area as before?