Melksham South Councillor Jon Hubbard is proposing a new solution to the long-discussed issue of the lack of railings on the raised pavement on Bank Street in Melksham town centre.
The topic has been examined and considered many times, but structural weaknesses in the supporting wall on the raised section means that previous solutions have been rejected as unsafe.
Following a meeting on-site with highways officers the local councillor has suggested that a different approach is taken.
“We have always been looking at load-bearing solutions previously,” said Cllr Jon Hubbard. “I’ve asked our team if we could look at a different solution that demonstrates a clear need to avoid the edge of the pavement and would provide a suitable warning to sight-impaired users that the edge of the pavement was an unsafe place to be.
“After visiting the site and discussing the matter, I enquired if it would be possible to erect regular bollards along the edge of the pavement, that were connected with decorative chains, so that there was a clear visual barrier but not one that would encourage people to lean or sit on it.
“This would mean that the barrier was not load-bearing, and therefore subject to all of the issues previously highlighted but would provide an adequate protection.”
Officers have agreed that this may well be a viable solution and are preparing a report the next LHFIG Meeting (Local Highway and Footway Improvement Group). If the group is agreeable to the solution, then the matter will need to be considered by Melksham Town Council who would need to part-fund the works.
Early estimates suggest that the solution would cost somewhere between £30,000 and £50,000 but there are several factors that need to be confirmed before any final costings can be confirmed.
The issue is due to be discussed on Tuesday 7th May.
