WILTSHIRE Council has suspended the alternate traffic light one-way system on the Town Bridge in Bradford on Avon for the immediate future, it was disclosed yesterday.

The £30,000 scheme was designed and implemented by Wiltshire Council at the request of Bradford on Avon Town Council, which paid for the scheme, but sparked thousands of complaints by angry residents and motorists.

In a statement, three leading members of Bradford on Avon Town Council expressed their “deep concerns” that the suspension had been authorised before pedestrian safety and other traffic calming and have been put in place.

The action has been taken ahead of children at the town’s two primary schools and St Laurence School returning to the classroom this week and an emergency meeting called by Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan with the two councils on Friday.

Town council leader, Cllr Dom Newton, who also chairs the council’s highways and transport committee, together with his vice-chair Cllr Sarah Gibson, and town mayor Cllr Simon McNeill-Ritchie, said: “Wiltshire Council have now notified us that in the interests of children returning to school this week, they are suspending the alternate on way on the bridge for the immediate future.

“We have been working daily with Wiltshire Council to improve the operation of the system for the benefit of the whole town.

“We understand the reasons for the Wiltshire Council decision but we have expressed our deep concerns that this aspect of the scheme has been withdrawn before other measures to protect pedestrians and calm traffic have been installed in their stead. We will continue to review and revise the system with Wiltshire Council.”

Wiltshire Council said: “Following feedback from residents and businesses, Wiltshire Council and Bradford on Avon Town Council have agreed to make changes to the town’s social distancing scheme.

“The traffic lights on the Town Bridge, which were implemented to allow pedestrians to safely social distance while walking across the bridge, will be removed to allow traffic to travel across the bridge in both directions.

“Pedestrians can follow the directional signage to cross the Town Bridge safely, and there is also an alternative route for pedestrians across the river via McKeever Bridge.

“The rest of the temporary one-way system in the town will remain in place for the life of the scheme, which is expected to last at least six months, and potentially up to 18 months.”

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council's cabinet member for highways, said: “Since this scheme was implemented, we have been clear that we would monitor the traffic flows and listen to the feedback of residents and businesses.

“Based on this feedback, it is evident that changes are needed to the scheme and we feel that the removal of the traffic lights on the Town Bridge will ensure that the return to school is as stress-free as possible, while we study the scheme to establish what is required to meet the needs of pedestrians and motorists."

“Our contractors will now remove the traffic lights, and they’re also installing semi-permanent bollards on Market Street and Silver Street this week to improve the scheme.”

The move pre-empts an emergency meeting with the councils called by the local MP to discuss public concerns about the town’s social distancing scheme.

Miss Donelan said: “I have called an emergency meeting this Friday afternoon with representatives from Wiltshire Council and Bradford on Avon Town Council.

“The traffic has been an issue in the town for decades and I have held several meetings with unitary and town council over the years to try and resolve the issue.

“The current measures have been brought in combined with measures to implement social distancing and it’s clear it is not a workable solution.

“We need to urgently work together to fix this. I have received a large number of emails and calls on the current traffic situation in Bradford on Avon as a result of the implementation of the one way system and the lights on the bridge.

“I have been to the town and seen the congestion and I have also seen several videos and photos of the traffic at different points during the day.

"I was especially concerned to see the impact on emergency service vehicles trying to get through the town.

"I hear your concerns and I understand them and I look forward to making positive steps forward on Friday.”

The scheme has been strongly criticised by more than 2,600 residents and motorists driving through the town since it was introduced on August 20.

The online meeting is private, but is likely to be attended by Cllr Newton and Cllr Gibson, who chairs the Community Area Transport Group for the Bradford on Avon area, and is both a Wiltshire and town councillor.

Cllr Wayman and two independent town councillors, Laurie Brown and Mike Roberts, have also been invited to attend.

On Tuesday, workmen began installing black and white poles to replace the orange barriers which were put in place on August 20.