Salisbury bypass—less support from the residents
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Richard Diment (CM 10-16 July) makes the honest mistake of suggesting that most local residents support the nowcancelled Salisbury A36 bypass. At the thorough, 13-month long Public Inquiry, evidence was heard from some 40 supporters but almost 300 objectors, not all of whom objected on environmental grounds. Contrary to popular thought, the Department of Transport never claimed that it would solve the congestion in the city— indeed, by its nature, it could not. There is only one trunk road through the city and it carries less, according to the DOT, sometimes significantly less, traffic than most other main roads feeding the city.
Salisbury has an inner relief road, completed 21 years ago, which necessitated the demolition of several businesses and the displacement of some 700 householders. Part of it became the A36 trunk road, and within 10 years was overcrowded. Long-term residents know any relief offered by the bypass will be short term and the DOT's traffic predictions bear this out.
Perhaps Diment has not seen the details, but to the west of the city and for a distance of almost 20 miles, the A36 shares the valley floor with a river, railway and a minor road. In contrast, the proposed bypass was not only longer, but involved a climb of more than 300ff, Hardly attractive to a 38-boner when the alternative is level and congestion-free for much of the day. Anthony Phillips,
Salisbury.