The dates for the reshaping of Junction 15 of the M4 have been announced. Work is planned to commence on 19th September 2019. This scheme is set to cost £9.5m, with £5m from the Highway Agency and £4.5m from the developers of Badbury Park. So SBC are not having to fund this work. If Junction 15 is your route to work, you will need to think about an alternative route. Chiseldon will be very disruptive during these works and Day House Lane, under the A419 will be closed during the period of these works. It is anticipated that the work will take 15-18 months.
Finally, the A417 “missing link” is also set to go ahead later this year. This is Highways England £435m scheme that will connect the M4 with the M5, taking away the current bottle neck where it is narrows from two lane, to one lane at Nettleton Bottom.
As mentioned last month, SBC are to resurface Mays Lane and High Street. It has been rescheduled for Thursday 28th and Friday 29th March between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm. This will affect both bus services 80 and 81, with the stops at Landmark Hotel and Station Road being out of service.
Other roadworks in the same week, will be patching of the B4005. This road will be closed from Monday 25th March to Friday 29th March from the bottom of Hodson Road to the T junction at Burderop. You will not be able to come out onto this road from Hodson. The closure is due to be operative from 8.00am to 6.00pm. This will affect both bus service 81 and the Ridgeway School buses.
Salisbury Reds increased their fares from Sunday 3rd March in line with other bus companies.
There is a new National Express bus service from London to Swindon, through the night. It will leave London Victoria Bus station at 02.00 on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday, calling at Heathrow Airport and arriving at Swindon Bus Station at 04.15. This bus will drop passengers off at Coate Water.
Great Western Railway are due to launch a “Repay Delay 15” scheme from 1st April. This will allow passengers to claim back part of their single or return fare if the train is more than 15 minutes late or is cancelled.
SBC have now published the plans to redevelop the middle of Swindon. This £33m scheme will give us a new bus boulevard along Fleming Way which will become a one-way road.
After many years of compiling this report, I would be grateful if someone was able to volunteer to take over this role. Please contact the Parish Clerk, Clair Wilkinson on 01793 740744 or email clerk@chiseldon-pc.gov.uk
Cllr David Hill Transport Representative – Chiseldon Parish Council