I attended the Heritage Core Zone public meeting last Saturday in Bradford on Avon with around 50 other residents. Having just received a Vote No leaflet through my door, I had some concerns about the scheme. However, these were soon addressed by the speaker who had worked on the design and also lives in Bradford on Avon.

The aim of the project is “to create a clearly identifiable zone that rebalances the relationship between motorised vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, and also reduces the dominance and intimidation of traffic”.

The intention has not been to solve the town’s traffic congestion and pollution problems but to improve the pedestrian environment whilst keeping the traffic flowing through the town. The funding is available for this project and cannot be switched to other projects in Bradford. So, if this does not go ahead then Bradford will not benefit from this money.

It was reassuring to hear that there can be alterations made in the future. We can’t know if this design will be the perfect model for our town until it is built and used. A safety audit will be carried out and changes can be made. If it is necessary to reinstate black and white markings on the crossings then this can happen.

I believe that Bradford residents are ready to try something new to make their town centre more pedestrian friendly and enhance the environment of our historic town. Let’s give it a go by voting yes in the forthcoming poll.

June Alexander Southleigh Bradford on Avon