Extending the dual carriageway section of the A350 in Chippenham is crucial for the prosperity of the town, argues the chief of Wiltshire’s business network.

Wiltshire Council selected the A350, the main road that links Chippenham with the M4 to the north and Melksham to the south, to be put on a shortlist for government funding.

Two proposed schemes, involving creating an HGV lane on the A350 Chippenham bypass and widening the A350 between Jackson’s Lane and the Badger roundabout, are part of ten prioritised by Wiltshire Council’s cabinet on Tuesday.

They were whittled down from a total of 70 schemes originally put forward.

The A350 at Chippenham could now receive some of the £16.9million made available for major transport schemes in Wiltshire and Swindon. But it is likely only two schemes in Wiltshire will get to go ahead when the final selection is made in July.

Rob Perks, chief executive of Wessex Chambers of Commerce, said the A350 at Chippenham would be the best choice. He said: “It would be great for the county, a very good use of money. I came back from Amesbury along there on Monday evening and you get stuck behind lorries and it just takes forever.

“It would encourage other businesses into the area. Some are saying they wouldn’t move into the middle of the county because there are no transport links. East to west is fine, you’ve got the M4, but if you’re a business wanting to commute north to south it is a problem. Making transport across the way more efficient would be tremendously beneficial.”

Work between Jackson’s Lane and the Badger roundabout looks a strong candidate. At an estimated cost of £2.7m, it is believed it will add £3.9m to the local economy through the creation of jobs.

A report to the council’s cabinet said it would help unlock the potential development of 750 houses in the north of Chippenham and 800 to the south-west.

Melody Thompson, chairman of Cherish Chippenham Town Team, said: “It is the gateway to the town and is very congested so to have it opened up as a dual carriageway would be very good.”

The HGV lane on the bypass is estimated to cost ten times as much – £26.75m, though it is thought developers would contribute.

Town councillor John Scragg, a representative on Wiltshire Council’s Chippenham Community Area Transport Group, said: “I would rather see the money spent on something that prevents traffic towards Calne going through Chippenham centre, a bypass linking Bath Road and London Road.”

Mr Scragg’s suggestion is not on the list. Competing schemes include building railway stations with two platforms each at Corsham and Royal Wooton Bassett, extra lanes on the slip roads at M4 Junction 16, and improvements to roads near Trowbridge and Salisbury.

Peter Knight, chairman of Calne Environmental Network, said: “We are all for railway stations re-opening to take the pressure off the roads and any schemes that don’t go ahead because of budget cuts would be a great tragedy.”