I understand why everyone in Trowbridge wants the demolition of the old Peter Black site.

Yes, it is an ugly eyesore. But anyone who knows exactly where this site is positioned in relation to the adjacent roads will appreciate that it is adversely located for vehicular access and egress.

Also, it is not a short distance for pedestrians from/to the town’s central shopping area, namely Fore Street and/or The Shires.

I cannot see how vehicle egress from this proposed redeveloped site could be allowed on to the dual carriageway County Way, presumably just north of the existing roundabout traffic lights.

We definitely don’t want any more traffic lights on County Way. I suppose vehicle access could be allowed more or less opposite the pedestrian entrance end of the now disused but not very old library building, but a right vehicle turn into the redeveloped site could not be allowed for obvious reasons.

To be blunt, could it be that the now one-year-old Odeon cinema and its associated shops have been positioned such that vehicular access or egress for this proposed new redeveloped site of Peter Black would be prevented?

Was it ever considered that it could have been a possibility by crossing the River Biss at the rear of Peter Black? I’d say an emphatic yes.

This suggests to me a total lack of foresight by the planners since development of the whole area certainly should have been considered, and not as two separate sites. Or was it simply Legal and General’s money?

I cannot see how planning consent can be allowed for vehicular egress or even access. Perhaps more to the point, M&S and the other proposed retailers may not desire a car park. That would be very surprising though.

Who wants to carry their shopping hundreds of yards to the car parks which are much nearer to Fore Street and, even more to the point, these are often full, as indeed is the new cinema car park.

If vehicular access could be allowed from opposite the disused library building then there are possibly two other egress routes. A road could be built parallel to County Way to connect with the park end of St Stephen’s Place, or Polebarn Road, just west of the park by Magnet Southern. Because of the route of the River Biss this new road would have to be built above it on stilts. No one would deem it practical or sensible to re-route the river through the park.

Or even perhaps a flyover from a car park within this proposed redeveloped Peter Black site to go across County Way and connect with the Longfield housing estate road junction with County Way on the opposite side?

You may say, how ridiculous, and lots would say that it would be an eyesore, but other than these two ideas how else can it be done? A tunnel somewhere?

That is laughable.

But I would be very surprised if the redevelopers would fund such relatively complex and very costly road constructions to get planning consent granted.

In the end game doesn’t it depend on how much they want it?

Perhaps we should forget all about it and get the old Peter Black site demolished and grassed over for Trowbridge’s new mini football ground. A little proper one is better than not having one at all, and it would be level.

Two shoppers in Sainsbury’s commented that they would only believe it (the redevelopment) when they actually saw it. I’m very inclined to have the same view.

Name and address supplied.