This diagram also shows the route of an alternative, superior, direct main road between Westbury's railway station (one of
the biggest in the West of England) and the A36 (the major road in the area, that the A350 runs into), which would be of
lower cost and of far greater usefulness than an old-style rural bypass.
This road would go straight to the proposed International Rail Freight Terminal, for road to rail (and rail to road)
interchange at the existing tracks and sidings.
It is obvious to all but WCC (though the diagram may help) that a western road could be in the area of the railway lines
and run directly to the trading estates.
All main transport routes would then be integrated - on the west of the town, where the business is and railway is.
This diagram (which is partially based on a western bypass option route) shows that the villages, countryside and wildlife
to the west would be little impacted, as the road would be beside the railway.
The spring water sources, which are all on the east, could be left unpolluted.
If you think about the long actual length of an eastern bypass, that would have to extend westwards, back around to the
industrial estates, a western bypass, or a western heavy goods vehicle relief and rail access road, is better value.
Here are some outline considerations of how to interface with the railway etc.
The A36/A350 Corridor Alliance (ACA) propose a simple scheme to take traffic away from the centre of Westbury by utilising
a series of link roads to the west.
Here is ACA's basic diagram of suggested link roads and how they could work.
This transport, environmental and landscape group, including Transport 2000, Friends of the Earth and local bodies of the
Campaign to Protect Rural England, believe that major schemes along the A350 and A36 are counter-productive.
ACA say that WCC's eastern bypass plan is really the worst of all for Westbury and will not resolve the transport needs
of the area. Urbanisation, destruction of the finest landscape and loss of trade in Westbury town centre
would follow.
ACA's alternative integrated link roads relief strategy for Westbury aims to:
Reduce the traffic congestion and pollution in the town and the nearby villages;
Provide direct routes to the industrial estates and rail freight terminal for HGVs;
Protect the natural landscape to the east and to the west from further damage;
Prevent the commuter housing development that is associated with a bypass;
Create an integrated transport system and help to revitalise the town centre.
ACA say that all of this could be achieved for a fraction of the cost of a bypass.
It could also be implemented in far less time. Which would you rather have?
Regardless, it is obvious by now that integrated transport is the solution.
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