Wiltshire Council announces plans to permanently close Queen Street to cars

Monday, 13 December 2021 00:00

Wiltshire Council is considering permanently closing Queen Street in Salisbury to motor vehicles. The road is currently closed daily from 10am-4pm and is regularly unavailable for longer periods due to events being held in the neighbouring Guildhall Square.

The proposal will be subject to public consultation through the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, which will begin in January. Once this has been completed and any responses to the order have been reviewed, any permanent closure of the road would begin in spring 2022.

If approved the closure would mean that buses, taxis and vehicles loading or unloading would be prohibited on Queen Street at all times, leaving the road clear for pedestrians and cyclists, as the road currently forms part of the Route 45 of the National Cycle Network.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “Salisbury’s Queen Street is already closed to motor vehicles during the daytime and for events, and this proposed permanent closure would be an extension of that.

“The closure would enable pedestrians to walk freely and safely along the road, as an extension of the Guildhall Square, while also maintaining a through route for cyclists as part of the National Cycle Network.

“We’ve already discussed the proposals with Salisbury City Council, but would encourage anyone who has any comments on the plans to have their say through the Traffic Regulation Order process, which will begin on 20 January and last for three weeks.

“If approved, Queen Street would be permanently closed to traffic from spring 2022.”

If the plans are approved, deliveries to residences and businesses on Queen Street will have to take place from Milford Street or Blue Boar Row/Winchester Street, or, in the case of businesses, through the Cross Keys shopping centre.

The TRO process will begin on the 20th January 2022 until the 14th February 2022, and people can have their say here.