One-way system to address town's traffic problems

A thin, winding road which leads through a market town could be made safer under new plans to create a one-way system.

When large vehicles pass through Silver Street in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, they sometimes mount the pavement and scrape walls as they try to avoid oncoming traffic.

The town council has backed a Wiltshire Council plan to implement a temporary uphill one-way system on part of Silver Street between 07:00 and 19:00 BST to improve the situation.

Klas Hyllén, who lives on the road, said: "We have a low bollard to protect the corner of our house, but very often larger vehicles strike it and [the noise] rattles through the whole house. There are a few cracks in the floor."

A sculpture on the front of Studio Bacchus, a co-working space on Silver Street, was struck by a lorry a few years ago.

Hyllén, who runs the business, was able to claim on his insurance after the lorry driver was tracked down.

He is also awaiting a quote for some more recent damaged stonework.

He said: "These are listed buildings and this is a historic conservation area so it's something we need to keep looking after."

The 25m (82ft) section of Silver Street which will be made temporarily one-way will be between the Shambles and the roundabout at Kingston Road.

There are also plans to widen pavements on this part of the road.

Lorraine McKay, of Dream Doors on Silver Street, said she was supportive of the changes because she feels it will help her staff feel "safer" as they carry items out of the shop.

Sam Blackwell, mayor of Bradford on Avon, said the Silver Street issue has been "going on for decades and decades".

He said: "The road space is insufficient, especially with the width of many modern vehicles."

The one-way restrictions will be subject to an official trial, known as an experimental traffic regulation order, which can be in place for up to 18 months to test the proposals, gather evidence and assess its benefits and drawbacks.

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