Wiltshire Council originally consulted on the road options between November 2020 and January 2021 – offering up 18 options for the proposed road.

Cabinet has now decided to do another round of consultation focusing on the 10c option.

This is the long route to the east of Melksham and the many “alignments” at the northern end of the proposed bypass.

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A spokesman for the council said the consultation will also look to improve cycling and walking infrastructure either alongside the scheme or as a stand-alone project.

At cabinet on June 1, Andrew Nicholson said the road will not ease traffic volumes adding that the idea was like “trying to lose weight by buying bigger trousers”.

The council received 1,033 responses to the consultation. Most of these (594) supported the need for the road but there was “not overwhelming support for a particular option”, according to the cabinet report.

The bulk of the responses were submitted online and due to the global pandemic no in-person consultation took place, however, the council looks to hold online and face-to-face surveys.

Cabinet has said that information will be posted up in Melksham Library.

Option 10c, the report says, offers “good value for money” and that “suitable mitigation measures” could offer a viable option for the scheme.

Alternative routes were proposed by residents during the consultation, but it was stated that these were considered unsuitable in meeting the council’s transport goals.

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The bid has faced criticism throughout the consultation over the potential impact on wildlife from option 10d and the case plan funding gap.

Dr Mark McClelland, cabinet member for highways, said: “It’s really important that people get involved in the second consultation, which we’ll launch at Melksham Area Board on Wednesday 23 June, as it will help to shape the Outline Business Case that we’ll present to DfT.

“DfT will then review the OBC against its criteria and ensure the views of the local community have been properly considered, before deciding whether to proceed with the scheme.”

More details on the consultation will follow, but for more information on the A350 Melksham Bypass, please click here.