The vote for the Historic Core Zone in Bradford on Avon carries with it unforeseen consequences.

The scheme is to improve the relationship between cars and pedestrians. It has been safety audited to within an inch of its life by traffic engineers whose careers and reputations depend on their delivering a safe scheme.

The question is, should we have a modern, pedestrian-friendly scheme that will enhance our existing townscape and not affect the traffic flow or should we preserve the town in aspic to retain the three zebra crossings?

The details of whether 25 courtesy crossings and gates suggesting that cars give way to pedestrians is better for the town than doing nothing I will leave to others.

This is the third scheme that Bradford has had to improve itself, the previous two being the flood protection scheme in the Bull pit and the pedestrian bridge upstream of the town bridge.

Nothing has happened in either of these cases, except that the town flooded and was cut in two and pedestrians continue to take their lives in their hands when crossing the town bridge.

If this scheme is rejected the town is sending out a loud and clear message that no change is acceptable in Bradford. It is easy to say no to a detail; it is much harder and more difficult to explain the whole picture.

The money will be lost to the town and the shops will continue to close. The people working on this and other schemes for no reward, except that of serving their town, will understand that they are wasting their time.

Future projects such as the Economic Forum to try to reverse Bradford’s decline, a revised scheme for a pedestrian bridge, the neighbourhood plan, the Campus project to enlarge the doctors surgery and bring better leisure facilities to the town, will grind to a halt. In a word, Bradford will continue its move towards becoming a dormitory town, where its people work, shop and play elsewhere. I for one don’t want this.

The Historic Core Zone is the starting point for a fight back to a vibrant, prosperous future. It’s not without its flaws, but these are minor and largely resolvable.

It is the only game in town and a one-off opportunity.

Magnus Macdonald, Wiltshire councillor: Winsley, Westwood, Wingfield and Limpley Stoke, Frome Road, Bradford on Avon.