It is “fantastic” that Bath could no longer be the main route for motorway traffic heading to the south coast, the city’s MP has said.
The A46 and A36 through Bath is the current designated route for traffic heading from the M4 to the Dorset coast, funnelling it across Cleveland Bridge and past homes on London Road, Bathwick Street, and Warminster Road. But now a government study has recommended making the A350 in Wiltshire the designated route instead.
Wera Hobhouse MP (Liberal Democrats, Bath) said: “This has been a very long-standing discussion which I am proud to have kept on the table. For many years, Conservative MPs beyond Bath resisted this glaringly obvious solution.
“I’m delighted that this recommendation will hopefully see the through road over Cleveland Bridge declassified which will be a fantastic outcome for people in Bath.”
Built in 1826, Cleveland Bridge is a Grade II* listed structure and there have long been fears over heavy traffic causing damage to the structure. In the House of Commons, Ms Hobhouse presented a petition signed by 1,278 Bathonians and secured an adjournment debate to call for the M4-Dorset coast route to be changed to the A350 instead.
In practice, heavier vehicles have already had to find alternate routes due to the 18 tonne weight limit on Cleveland Bridge. Introduced in 2021, Bath and North East Somerset Council renewed the temporary weight restriction while it monitors the safety and integrity of the structure.
It has been a source of contention with Wiltshire Council who have warned it has forced those lorries through towns like Westbury instead. But both councils have welcomed the recommendations to make the A350 the designated route.
Manda Rigby, Bath and North East Somerset Council ’s cabinet member for transport, said: “This will have a hugely positive impact on traffic flows long term in Bath and North East Somerset, and air quality enhancements, and will unlock opportunities for reevaluating traffic interventions through north east Bath.”
Wiltshire Council’s corporate director of place Parvis Khansari said: “It now means that highways improvements could be made at several key points in the county, including at Melksham, Westbury, Warminster and Salisbury.”
He added: “There is a long way to go before we can secure this investment and make these improvements a reality, but this is a vital first positive step in the right direction. This corridor is not only essential for regional travel, but these strategic roads also provide vital links between many of our towns and villages here in Wiltshire and so improving them will benefit us all while boosting the economic prospects of our county.
“We welcome safer, more reliable journeys through Wiltshire, between the M4 and the south coast, and look forward to the next steps and unlocking future investment into the region’s transport links and Wiltshire’s highways network.”