NEXT week’s town poll is taking place seven years after the HCZ plans were first drawn up.

A series of public meetings have already taken place at St Margaret’s Hall. A public exhibition showcasing the proposal, which aims to give vehicles and pedestrians ‘equal rights’, is also on display in the Swan Hotel until polling day.

Electorates within the town parish will be able to vote, however business owners and residents living outside the town parish boundary will not be able to cast a vote even if their address states Bradford on Avon. This includes people in Winsley, Westwood, Avoncliff, Great Ashley, Bradford Leigh and Turleigh.

It is hoped that if the town poll votes in favour of the plans, then work on phase one could begin in the early summer.

Among those unable to vote is President of Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce, Caroline Philpott. She lives in Avoncliff and runs Tillions in the Shambles.

“It is frustrating that I cannot vote yet I have a business in the town and I live just in Avoncliff but that’s the way it is and you have to get on with these things,” she said.

“If the no vote goes ahead, then the investment goes away and we will lose money to another town.

“I have been in business for 32 years and this is the first time I have seen an investment like this, of this kind, in Bradford on Avon.”

The HCZ has been at the centre of debate since the idea was first posed in 2008.

A working group, set up two-and-a half years ago, has been closely monitoring similar schemes around the country and assessing how to make the plans work on the town’s narrow roads.

During these meetings, a number of local organisations have commented on the scheme and raised their own concerns including Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, Community Area Transport Group and Climate Friendly Bradford.

Work started last year when Market Street closed for a month for drainage works.

The HCZ poll – your questions answered

  • Wiltshire Council has issued notices to those eligible to vote and there will be seven polling stations which will be made available between 4pm and 9pm on February 5.
    These include: Mount Pleasant Centre; Lambert Community Centre; Wiltshire Music Centre; Bearfield Church; Youth Development Centre (double-station); St Margaret’s Hall.
  • Proxy votes will not be accepted for the town poll.
  • It has been estimated that the town poll has cost Wiltshire Council £6,500.
  • A total of 177 street addresses are eligible to vote in the town poll.
  • Around 10,000 electorates are able to vote within the boundary.
  • The question to be answered is ‘Should the Historic Core Zone be implemented in Bradford on Avon?’
  • The results of the poll will be counted in St Margaret’s Hall on Thursday evening.
  • The end result will be made public on Friday morning on the town noticeboard. The news will then be posted on the council’s website shortly afterwards.
  • The parish poll will be similar to a general election and will include the use of booths and black boxes.
  • Electoral office staff and other council employees will man the polling stations. It is not confirmed how many staff will be on duty on the evening. They will also be counting the votes.