One-way high street sparks mixed reaction

A decision to permanently reopen a high street to cars has drawn mixed reactions from neighbouring businesses and shops.

Calne High Street had been pedestrianised since 1968 but is now open one-way to traffic travelling south from Wood Street to Curzon Street following an 18-month, £100,000 trial by Wiltshire Council.

The council said the change had reduced traffic volumes in the town and improved journey times, with chairman of Marden Community Hub, Dawn Perkins, also saying the change had positively impacted footfall.

But for Kirsty Gray, founder of research and genealogy firm Family Wise, the noise pollution had sometimes been too much.

A 3.5 tonne weight restriction and a 9.9 m (32 ft 4 in) length restriction will remain in place for vehicles travelling south from Wood Street to Curzon Street.

Director of Charles Faye estate agents Louise Burrows said the "flow of traffic" in the town had "definitively improved".

"I don't think business has suffered...it's still the same amount of footfall up and down the high street," she said.

However, Burrows said having no parking was a problem.

"We have seen delivery drivers park in the middle of the road...it holds the traffic up," she said.

A public consultation received 40 responses supporting the proposals, 11 objecting and 22 providing general comments. A further consultation on additional restrictions received one objection.

Gray said Family Wise were already looking to expand and move premises, with the one-way road "a factor".

"If I'd have looked at this building now...I probably would have questioned if this was the right place for us," Gray said.

"You hear music blasting out when the traffic is building up, loud engines and motorcycles...it's incredibly noisy at times," she continued.

"A lot more people used to walk up because it was safer and now people don't walk up so much," Gray said.

"I'd like to see better crossing facilities...there should be a dropped kerb and better drainage," she added.

But Perkins said she was "chuffed" it was being made permanent, with people now "driving through" and realising the charity shop "existed".

Commenting on the temporary barriers that they "had to pick up" after being blown over on "numerous occasions", she added: "Plant pots would be nice, something to fit in with the local area and heritage."

The council said it will work with Calne Town Council to replace the current barriers with street furniture, and address some concerns with pedestrians' ability to cross.

Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn said: "The scheme supports the commitments set out in Our Wiltshire Plan by helping to create safer roads, supporting active travel and reducing the impact of traffic on the local environment."

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