The 2001 Westbury Bypass questionnaire, by consultants to Wiltshire County Council, asked (paraphrased): do you want an eastern bypass now, or do you want us to develop a western route over a longer period?

It was said in this poll questionnaire that the eastern bypass scheme had an opportunity for funding now.

It was said that the western bypass route needed further design work and could not be ready until later.

Residents were twice asked if they agreed to Wiltshire County Council progressing with an eastern bypass.

A large and consistent majority of Westbury residents who responded rejected an eastern bypass and instead wanted Wiltshire County Council to now develop the design of the western route.

The opinion survey questionnaire was available at the Laverton Hall in Westbury and at the West Wiltshire District Council offices in Trowbridge.   Up to twelve days were allowed for response.

The make-up of the Westbury etc areas represented by the responding residents was:

Existing A350 route through Westbury Town Centre, West End, Warminster Road - 7%
South-east Westbury, inc Chalford, Butts, Newtown, Bratton Rd & Bitham areas - 49%
North and west Westbury, inc Westbury Leigh, Ham and remainder of the town - 16%
Dilton Marsh and the rural areas of Fairwood and Rudge (the western villages) - 4.5%
Heywood, Hawkeridge, West Ashton, Yarnbrook, North Bradley & Southwick - 3%
Bratton and Edington - 11%
Trowbridge area - 3.5%
Somerset and areas outside of Wiltshire (plus 1% o/a of minor decimal places) - 6%

The preponderant majority of responses (72% of the total) were from within Westbury itself.

Q1: Do you agree to a bid for an eastern bypass now?    24% agreed.    76% disagreed.

Q2: Would you prefer an eastern bypass now, or the design for the far western route later?

21% wanted an eastern bypass.    75% wanted the western route to be designed and bid for.

Up to 4% expressed another view, not in the questions, probably for no bypass at all (as voiced below).

Dilton Marsh and Westbury Leigh people took part.  Outside areas (5% o/a) did not exert undue influence.

Only at Dilton Marsh and the western villages were a majority of the residents in favour an eastern bypass.

In all other areas, inclusive of the town centre, by over 1.5 to 1, and the whole of Westbury town together, by over 3 to 1, a significant majority of the residents taking part wanted a western route to be developed.

Some of the Westbury area residents added comments of their own.  Here is a sample:

Restatement of opposition to eastern and demand for a western alignment.
A western route is better suited as access to the West Wilts Trading Estate.
Most opposing an eastern bypass cited concern for landscape, wildlife and the scarp.
The questionnaire was biased in favour of an eastern bypass, with leading questions.
The public’s views, given in earlier consultations, had been ignored.
Concern about future housing development up to the bypass line.
Many comments on Blue Circle’s influence, in view of its land holdings.
The impartiality of members (ie councillors) and consultants was questioned.
It was felt that the public were being railroaded into a decision.
Traffic to the WWTE would drive through the town and not use an eastern bypass.
There were various comments on the value of the water supply source at Wellhead.
The eastern bypass scheme was seen as a short-term solution, to bid for finance.
The western route had not been developed in as much detail as the eastern scheme.
Trade in the town would be adversely effected by an eastern bypass.
A few requested no new roads.

There was a disturbing proportion of respondents who suspected hidden agendas, housing deals,
and questioned the impartiality of the members, officers and their consultants.

This last paragraph is the exact wording of the original last paragraph of the survey report.

This summary is a précis of the Ringway Parkman report of 8 July 2001, ref: 48500/R/06/A.

The original length has been reduced to about half.   Rounded percentages are shown.

Overall presentation of this consultation exercise has been simplified and clarified.

Explanatory notes have been added.

Further Comment:

There were 699 responses.  This is roughly about 10% of the local electorate.  It is reasonably consistent with local surveys of this sort and consequently is as representative as it is ever likely to be.   In contrast, the 2006 West Wiltshire PCT health-care changes survey had about 2% overall response.

Although with questions which were obviously loaded in favour of an eastern route, the 2001 bypass survey allowed all residents who wished to take part to do so and also allowed them to enter alternative responses.

Most Westbury people are not bypass objectors; they positively prefer a western solution.

Sadly, too many Wiltshire County Councillors voted for an eastern bypass, on 10 July 2001, just two days after these survey results were published, with no reference to this clear expression of local public opinion.

These opinion survey results were not in the report given to them.  The Director of Environmental Services' report instead referred to an earlier survey, in 1998, where the results were less straightforward, he said.

In the 1998 consultation, the public were offered four alternatives: three western and one eastern route.  This presented a less than straightforward choice.  Nevertheless, response was against the eastern route by 1.4:1 and for a far western route by over 1.5:1.

In 2001, the local public were presented with a clear choice between eastern or far-western routes. Less than a quarter wanted an eastern bypass.   Three-quarters asked for the far western route.

When the councillors voted again, on 16 May 2007, it was again the old 'less straightforward' opinion survey which was in the report put in front of them to read, not this more recent survey with the clear results.

Wilts County Council has not organised another survey since, but has continued with its eastern scheme.

On each occasion that Westbury area residents have had an opportunity of an open opinion survey, which has allowed them to write in to express their own views, with a clear choice of alternatives, the overwhelming majority have not wanted an eastern bypass but have wanted a western route.

Likewise, most responses to WCC's planning applications are objections to the eastern bypass scheme.  Of those who wrote their own letters, the ratio of objectors, inclusive of Westbury area, has been about 10:1.

Now looking back at the situation in 2001, it is apparent that there was canvassing for an eastern bypass, within the county council, on the basis that its design had been prepared and its funding was now available. The councillors who said this were wrong.   It is obvious that a superior scheme could have been designed during the intervening years.   This is what most Westbury area residents had asked the council to do.