A crossing on the top of Port Hill, near to the bus stop – talked about for years, any nearer being realised?

The answer would appear to be ‘No’. Or that is how the Planning Committee of the Town Council felt at last night’s (Monday 17 March) meeting of the Planning Committee.

On the Planning Committee Agenda there is an ‘Action Log’. There to monitor progress of initiatives and projects. In 2020, the opening action log entry for ‘Safe Crossing Point Port Hill to The Common’, ‘Min# 256/20’ records that: ‘RESOLVED That the Town Council supports this request for a safer crossing point, whether a pedestrian crossing, reduction in the speed limit or by other means.‘

That’s nearly five years ago.

Since then – discussion. Presentation to, questions asked of, proposals made to – Wiltshire Council. Highways. One (core) issue relates to a ‘buffer one’ – a section of speed restricted road which would need to be introduced between the 60mph (national) speed limit section and a crossing, were it to go ahead. This ‘buffer zone’ would be a stretch of 40mph limited road, designed to slow speeds down before the crossing. Seems to be the norm elsewhere. In Wiltshire, and beyond. But getting confirmation and agreement from Wiltshire Highways – first they say ‘no’, then when challenged they go away to rethink and review – this whole project is dumped somewhere into that ethereal mix of decision-making dust where nothing happens, no timescale, and no likely outcome. Yes, very Wiltshire Council, particularly in relation to important Marlborough issues.

This isn’t a ‘dig’ at Wiltshire Council and how they view / treat Marlborough. It’s reality, and evidenced dramatically a few years back when the Council had to reduce the overall number of Wards and councillors across the County by one. Where did they pick? Marlborough. ‘West Selkley’ disappeared and was merged into ‘Marlborough West’. So Marlborough went down from four County Councillors to three. One example, but loads more, one being the (nightmare) of traffic/roadworks issues that currently plague residents of Marlborough, how it is co-ordinated and we are kept informed. The ‘one.network’, to where we are directed for information is frequently wrong or out of date, and whilst it isn’t the Council that puts every entry in, it’s their responsibility to make sure all is correct, at all times. If this was Trowbridge, Calne or even Salisbury – would these issues pertain?

So back to Port Hill safety and the possible crossing: what to do? Information is key, data, knowing what speeds are happening in that area would help and one discussion in a recent meeting related to the placement of one of the SIDs (Speed Identification Devices) there, and a convenient lamp post exists. Incoming / outgoing speed could then be accurately measured and such information could then be used as argument for a buffer zone – or even for / against the need for a crossing at all. (The image above is a graphic interpretation of such a device, were it to be sited there). A similar device is sited at the entry point to Ogbourne Maizey, less than a mile further on down the A346.

So where is this issue now? Back in the land of Wiltshire Highways. Progress is way overdue. Even if the eventual decision regarding the buffer zone and crossing is a categoric ‘No’, then this could lead to some alternative solution. But in the meantime a continuing hazard confronts any resident wishing to cross the road at that point.