Let us be clear about the responsibility for any unresolved traffic in Westbury.

Wiltshire (County) Council has failed the town by pushing for an eastern bypass.

By far the most residents, in responding to opinion polls, want a western route.
A previous planning inspector asked for the eastern route to be re-considered.
The silenced majority of Westbury town councillors wanted a western bypass. Government policy asked to be shown justified integrated transport plans. Environmental bodies opposed an eastern bypass.     WC ignored us all.

Is it so surprising that WC's inferior scheme has ended in complete failure?

Fleur de Rhe-Philipe and the other councillors who favoured an eastern bypass ought to be reflecting on what they have achieved.    And re-thinking their route.

. . . ?

Here is what Christopher Newbury wrote in a previous county election address:  'As County Councillor..., Christopher will work to achieve a Western bypass...' Cllr Christopher Newbury endorsed this with a properly conducted and very clear Westbury residents survey which showed that 74% preferred a Western bypass. Relatively few Westbury residents wanted a bypass which could be anywhere.

Over 700 of us (as reported in the media) were at the anti eastern bypass rally, on the hills above Westbury that we want to save, on a cold day in mid winter.

Those attempting to push local opinion towards an eastern bypass, together with some county councillors, were suggesting that there are no alternatives and that central funding was almost available.    Though none of this was true.

The last silly street march, in 2005, orchestrated to support an eastern bypass was sparsely attended.    Only thirty people took part, some arriving in cars... (although complaining about vehicle fume pollution), on a fine September day.  These 'Bypass Now!' marchers went backwards and forwards across the roads, to no purpose other than to deliberately create artificial congestion in Westbury.

Narrow and short-sighted schemes, such as an eastern Westbury bypass, were hardly going to be high in a thought-out regional priority for funding allocation.

Unfortunately, the South West Regional Assembly now seems to be dominated by old-fashioned Conservative Shire County Councils which favour road building in contrast to the new conservationist public image of the Conservative Party.

And our council tax is paying for their highway to the south coast promotion.