THE government announced last month its intention to support to fund a major road improvement scheme for the A350 Melksham.

The funding will be around £135 million for a new A350 bypass. The proposed scheme is for a new road alignment for the A350 around the eastern side of Melksham, bypassing the village of Beanacre.

One of the options under consideration could see the A350 upgraded to link with the A3102.

The other option is to skirt the whole town centre to link the northern A350 around Beanacre and Melksham to the A350 on the south side. the third option route B has since been discounted.

A spokesman from Wiltshire Council said: “In terms of the timeframe, we are currently developing the outline business case for submission. It is expected that construction would start in March 2024, with completion in March 2026 (route A) or June 2028 (route C).

“These are indicative routes they do not show the exact path of any proposed road, and any proposals will be subject to full consultation.”

The road scheme was discussed at the Melksham Area Board meeting.

In attendance was Graham Ellis vice chairman of Melksham Rail User Group. He said: “It’s very early days for people who are concerned. Lots of people are questioning will it go through my back garden but there are multiple options on the maps.

“There are three options but the map and scale currently would be 20 to 30 yards apart with sharp corners so it’s not going to happen the way it is.

“It’s a hugely important decision so lots of things to consider. I’m neither a no or a yes for it as I would like to know more before I make that decision so for now I’m comfortably sitting on the fence.

“Between Westbury and Yarnbrook into the town there is a lot of traffic and of course Trowbridge isn’t very well connected to the motorway. Campaigners would rather there was a rail line but it’s not very realistic.

“There are over 200 extra lorries bypassing Melksham because they can’t use Cleveland Bridge in Bath due to the weight restrictions and they are not the cleanest of vehicles and they’re trying to be carbon neutral by 2030.

“There’s a limit to how long you can wait with these things and to what you can sit on. So we will have to wait and see.”

There are problems with congestion currently as there high accident rates along the A350 through Melksham and insufficient capacity to cope with current and future traffic volumes which the road is hoping to address.