SOCIAL distancing schemes in towns around Wiltshire will be removed as lockdown restrictions are lifted in England. 

Road and pavement changes installed during the early stages of the pandemic to allow for residents to social distance will be taken away in the coming weeks. 

These projects, installed by Wiltshire Council, are in Devizes, Marlborough, Malmesbury and Bradford on Avon. With work in Devizes expected to start on July 20. 

Cabinet member for transport, Mark McClelland said: “We know that some of these schemes have been well received by our communities, and we have had some requests to install them permanently, while others have proven to be more controversial. 

“As the schemes were installed under temporary traffic regulation orders, any requests to make them permanent would have to be considered once the temporary schemes have been removed, and only then in close consultation with the town or parish council and with the broad support of the local community.”

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The council added residents should not expect the scheme to disappear overnight but all are scheduled for removal. 

The full list of schemes to be removed is as follows:

  • Devizes, St Johns Street: removal of pole cones and barriers; removal of temporary road markings; replacement of previous road markings.
  • Marlborough, High Street: removal of pole cones and barriers, except those necessary to assist with business with additional seating capacity.
  • Marlborough, Kingsbury Street: removal of pole cones.
  • Malmesbury, High Street and Oxford Street: removal of pole cones and planters; replacement of previous road markings.
  • Bradford on Avon, Market Street, Masons Lane and Silver Street: removal of pole cones; removal of road markings, replacement of road markings as required; removal of one-way and associated signage.

Director of public health, Kate Blackburn said: “While it’s positive news that we are able to get back to a more normal way of living, we all need to remember that Covid-19 will remain part of our lives and we need to do everything we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

“This includes receiving the vaccine when offered, maintaining those really effective methods of prevention such as good hand hygiene and regular asymptomatic testing, and adhering to any restrictions that are still in place.”