Salisbury pedestrianisation scheme suspended following business concerns and city hall shakeup

A multi-million pound scheme to pedestrianise parts of Salisbury has been suspended “indefinitely” after support fell away.

Last week businesses called for traffic restrictions to be lifted until the new year. And a change of leadership led to a change of policy at Salisbury City Council.

Retailers were concerned that the People Friendly Scheme – which prioritises space for pedestrians and cyclists in the centre of the city – would adversely effect trade during the vital Christmas shopping period after the end of lockdown.

Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID) had supported the scheme, which was launched on October 21 –  just days before a second national lockdown was announced.

But after concerns were raised it polled its members. Seventy one percent of the 75 businesses that responded called for the scheme to be suspended.

Chief executive Robin McGowan said: “Whilst Salisbury BID supports the longer term ambitions of the scheme, there are many pressing challenges facing businesses at this time and we need to do all we can to enable a positive trading environment in the run up to Christmas.

“This suspension will allow Wiltshire Council to review and address some of the challenges and concerns raised to date regarding the scheme.”

Meanwhile a change of leadership at Salisbury City Council saw pro-pedestrianisation councillor Jeremy Nettle replaced by Liz Sirman, who opposes the scheme.

On Friday, Wiltshire Council confirmed the scheme had been suspended “indefinitely” from the end of November, citing the BID’s revised stance.

Wiltshire Council added Salisbury City Council had “refused to confirm support for the scheme moving forwards” at a recent meeting.

“Given the lack of explicit support from the city council and the Salisbury BID, Wiltshire Council is unable to continue with the scheme at this time,” said Wiltshire Council.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We are very disappointed and surprised that Salisbury City Council will not offer their continued support for People Friendly Salisbury.

“The scheme delivers to the objectives of the Central Area Framework for people friendly streets as well as the city council’s climate change ambitions. The city council were pivotal to the scheme being introduced and previously provided clear backing for this important scheme.

“The People Friendly Salisbury initiative was implemented as part of the council’s wider strategy to support Salisbury and was an excellent way to help reduce traffic within the city, improve air quality and give pedestrians priority in the city centre.

“It was designed to help transform the city, making it a more attractive place to visit, shop and work. Early evidence proves that the scheme is having a positive impact with equal number of shoppers visiting the centre whilst the traffic is halved. As with other such schemes elsewhere in the UK, more time would have been required to see all the economic, social and environmental benefits.

“We know that many residents and businesses are advocates of this initiative and Wiltshire Council remains committed to the scheme. However, unfortunately without the continued support of partners and stakeholders, at this time we cannot continue with People Friendly Salisbury.”

Back at the start of November, Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership announced it had secured £1.3 million of funding from the government’s Local Growth Fund to support the implementation of People Friendly Salisbury.