Possible road alterations at the junction of Common Rd and A27

Whiteparish Parish Council has been approached by the Parochial Church Council asking whether the pavement could be widened and made continuous from the A27 Common Road junction to the start of the layby adjacent to the church yard following safety concerns. 
 
Further to a site meeting with Wiltshire Councils Principal Engineer who confirmed there is scope to widen the pavement fronting the church on Common Road, the Parish Council would like to hear views from residents. 
 
If two-way traffic is to be maintained on both sides of the triangle then part of the triangle in the centre of the junction will need to be removed.   If the pavement alongside the triangle is to be maintained, then some of the grassed area will be lost to accommodate this.   

The cost of the works would be approximately £20k depending on the final layout and whether or not there is any utility apparatus that needs relocating.

Wiltshire Council has been made aware of the vehicle collisions with the church boundary wall however the police collision database does not show any recorded injury collisions at this location.  This is not unexpected but it does mean they have been unable to uncover any details regarding the collisions which makes it tricky to comment on whether realigning the kerb would be of assistance in this matter.   As the last collision was caused by a HGV, Wiltshire Council would suggest that it is likely that the damage was caused by the rear end of the vehicle hitting the wall, in which case widening the pavement would not necessarily prevent such damage occurring.  If a full height kerb is to be constructed across the gateway to the church then this would require the church to undertake works internally to adjust their boundary wall/gate/pathway as necessary, which may require an application for planning permission.   

If the Parish Council wish to progress this scheme then it will need to make an application to the Southern Community Area Transport Group (CATG).   Ultimately the scheme would be in excess of the CATG's budget so the CATG would need to make a bid for substantive funding.  The first step, however, is to request a topographical survey which will facilitate some initial design work and more detailed cost estimates to be made.  The cost of the topographical survey would be in the region of £1,500 and the CATG would no doubt expect the Parish Council to make a contribution.  
 
Please email the Parish Clerk with your comments: clerk@whiteparish-pc.gov.uk