Residents and local businesses are being asked for their views on two important projects in Salisbury.
This the final phase of public consultation on the Salisbury Central Area Framework (CAF), which will help shape the future of the city centre. The CAF has been amended to reflect the comments received from the public consultation held last summer and Wiltshire Council now wants to hear further feedback on the first draft.
The final CAF will be adopted by Wiltshire Council later this year. The CAF recommendations guide future developments and initiatives in the city centre to make it a more vibrant, attractive and sustainable place.
The second project is a joint initiative with the Environment Agency to improve the watercourses in central Salisbury. This will help reduce flood risk to residents and businesses, build climate change resilience, enhance existing spaces and create new ones for biodiversity and improve public enjoyment of the river. Local people will be able to comment on the plans, which will be submitted as part of a joint planning application later in the year.
Cllr Philip Whitehead, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “Together with our partner organisations, we have spent a lot of time over the last year looking at initiatives that will have a positive impact on Salisbury. By bringing forward these improvements, Wiltshire Council and its partners aim to ensure the city recovers from the impact of the nerve agent incidents of 2018 and adapts to the economic opportunities and challenges which face the city. We have initiated work on a number of projects to deliver the objectives of the CAF and want to involve local people so they can help shape the proposals moving forward.”
Cllr Jeremy Nettle, leader of Salisbury City Council, said: “I welcome this public consultation which is the final phase of over a year’s dialogue with Wiltshire Council and our partners within the city. This is very much about ‘Salisbury on the move’ and maintaining its values of tradition and heritage, whilst working towards improving the economic performance of the City and responding to and mitigating against the impacts of climate change.”
These consultations will run for a six-week period from 9am on Thursday 16 January closing at 5pm on Friday 28 February 2020.
Local people can complete the survey online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/salisbury-future, email the survey to futuresalisbury@wiltshire.gov.uk, or post it to Future Salisbury, Wiltshire Council, The Council House, Bourne Hill, Salisbury SP1 3UZ.
Exhibition boards, the CAF document, the CAF Executive Summary and the survey form will also be available during normal opening hours at libraries in Salisbury, Wilton, Downton, Amesbury and Durrington and Five Rivers Leisure Centre. Copies will also be present at the Wiltshire Council offices in Salisbury (Bourne Hill) and Trowbridge (County Hall).
Alternatively, local people can come along to two public exhibitions, where Council staff will be on hand to provide more information and answer any questions. One exhibition has already passed but the other is being held at the United Reformed Church on Wednesday 29 January 2020 from 2.30pm to 7pm.
Local people will be able to engage with or hear more about the following projects which will also be exhibited at the public event:
• Fisherton Street City Gateway Enhancements –proposals for a new welcoming entrance to the city
• Station Quarter – outline for the plans to transform the arrival experience at Salisbury’s rail station
• Transport Accessibility – proposals to improve transport access into the city including routes for walking and cycling
• Illuminating Salisbury – information on a potential fantastic outdoor visitor light attraction that will illuminate the stories of Salisbury’s rich heritage and increase spend by tourists
• Public Art – exploring views about how public art can add to the offer of Salisbury
• Wayfinding - gathering comments on how information and direction finding of Salisbury can be improved
• Heritage Trail App – information on the Salisbury Heritage Trail app and the potential trails being developed
Cllr Jeremy Nettle added: “I would encourage everyone to have their say through the public consultations and at the exhibitions to make Salisbury an even better place to live, work and socialise in.”
For all media enquiries please contact Joanna Wood at Salisbury City Council on 01722 342860 or email communications@salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk