Wiltshire Council has confirmed that several towns will receive new cycle paths after a major financial boost.

Residents in Melksham, Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett will benefit from new cycling and walking routes that are aimed at improving active travel and local infrastructure.

On top of this, existing cycleway plans in Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Salisbury, Chippenham and Devizes are all set to be moved forward.

The announcement comes after Wiltshire Council was awarded £375,000 from Active Travel England.

This is on top of the £978,000 that the council has already received as part of the Active Travel Fund Four awarded last year.

The new plans for Melksham, Calne and Royal Wootton Bassett have yet to be laid out, but the council has announced the funding will be spent on feasibility studies, development, designs of the following routes:

  • A3094 Netherhampton to Hospital cycleway in Salisbury
  • Cycleways linking Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster
  • The Town Path walking and cycling link in Salisbury
  • A338 City Centre to Hospital cycleway (via New Bridge Road and Downton Road) in Salisbury
  • Development for priority schemes in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Devizes, as identified in the towns’ LCWIPs

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Royal Wootton Bassett residents have previously complained about the lack of cycle routes in town.Royal Wootton Bassett residents have previously complained about the lack of cycle routes in town. (Image: Luke Edwards)

All of these schemes will be moved forward or designed, and then the council will apply for further funding to enable them to be constructed.

£100,000 of this funding will also go specifically towards Trowbridge accessibility improvements at Roundstone Street and The Halve, as an extension of the Future High Streets Fund project.

This will join up existing cycling and walking infrastructure and will see three pedestrian crossings installed, along with segregated shared-use paths, and improved signing and wayfinding.

“We’re committed to enabling residents to live healthier lives and improving walking, cycling and wheeling routes in Wiltshire," said Councillor Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transport and Assets.

"This is part of our Business Plan commitment to improve the air quality and support the decarbonisation of transport in our county.

“That’s why this funding is so welcome – it will be spent on both installing new infrastructure to make it easier for people to choose to leave their cars at home, as well as planning for more new projects, which will then put us in a good position to successfully bid for more funding.

“We have pledged to make the council carbon neutral by 2030, and we’re also doing all we can to help make the whole county carbon neutral too.”