BRADFORD on Avon councillors are seeking assurances from Wiltshire Council that a £33,000 contribution to a modelling solution to the town’s traffic problems won’t be wasted.

Wiltshire Council has asked the town council to contribute up to two-thirds of the potential £50,000 cost of modelling solutions to Bradford on Avon’s traffic issues.

It followed a request from Wiltshire Council to pay a significant proportion of the modelling cost of a new traffic scheme.

At a meeting on Friday, November 25, Wiltshire Council said it cannot fund the cost in full due to pressures on its £20 million highways budget.  

Cllr Tim Trimble, who chairs the Bradford on Avon Town Council Sustainable Travel Committee, said: “The sum we are being asked to commit is more than the town council’s annual budget for highways-related issues. 

“The town council is therefore asking for some critical information before a decision is made. 

“The town council wants to see written confirmation of Wiltshire Council’s statement that the request is in line with what has happened in other places in the county. 

“The town council also needs an assurance that if it pays most of the cost that the town council will have a major input into the way the modelling is carried out.”

Cllr Trimble added: “Bradford on Avon Town Council is not a highway authority, but so far it alone has shouldered the cost of finding a traffic solution for the town. 

“However, given the importance of the issue, the town council will consider finding this funding once it has received the written information asked for from Wiltshire Council.”

Following the town council’s Future of Transport consultation in November 2021, it issued the final report to Wiltshire Council on April 6 and Friday’s meeting was held to discuss progress. 

But the town’s mayor Cllr Katie Vigar says a potential overspend of their entire annual £20,000 highways-related budget will need to be “clearly justifiable” given the high level of resident interest in the issues.

She says the town will be “looking for some certainty” that money spent on the modelling won’t be wasted and will provide real progress on solutions to its chronic traffic volume, air quality and pollution problems.

Councillors hope to gain assurances from Wiltshire Council in time to make an ‘informed decision’ at their resources committee meeting on December 13 or at the full council on January 10 on whether to commit to the £33,000 spend.