A public meeting was held at Calne Town Hall on Monday night (October 20) to discuss traffic flow along the A4 - particularly around the High Street junction - and the possibility of removing the pedestrian crossing by Centre News.
Residents gathered to share their views on proposals that could see the crossing taken out as part of wider plans to improve traffic flow and air quality in the town centre.
The meeting, organised by the Calne Area Board heard from councillors and members of the public.
Cllr Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls opened the discussion, by acknowledging Calne's long-standing traffic problems. “It is no secret that traffic in Calne has long been a challenge, so I would say it is probably time for a bit of bold and creative thinking to tackle these ongoing issues,” she said.
“There have been some planned improvement works already due to take place - improvements due to start in April 2026 - including upgrades to the four-way traffic lights and potentially the relocation of the bus stop outside The Lansdowne, pending further consultation.”
Supporters of removing the crossing said it could help improve air quality by reducing the amount of time vehicles spend idling, although it was noted that Calne’s air quality has already shown signs of improvement.
Wiltshire Council is considering a range of options, including synchronising traffic lights, relocating bus stops, and possibly removing the crossing. Supporters argue that the nearby crossing outside the Lansdowne Strand could serve as an alternative, helping to cut queues and congestion.
However, most residents who spoke said the current crossing is essential - particularly for families, older people, and those with mobility issues.
“I use this crossing a lot to get around town,” said one resident. “People from the care home use it too - I wouldn’t like to see it removed.”
Others described it as “the most used crossing in Calne” and warned that removing it would make it much harder to move safely between the High Street, Market Hill and nearby community buildings.
Cllr Ashley O’Neil said improvements to the High Street had already made a positive difference to traffic flow but agreed more work is needed along the A4.
“This is a good opportunity to feed our views back to Wiltshire Council,” he said.
Cllr Ian Thorn suggested the town’s traffic lights may not be properly synchronised, contributing to queues, while others discussed options such as yellow box junctions on Curzon Street and changes to bus stop locations.
Residents also raised issues with school-time traffic, the timing of pedestrian lights, and the safety of other crossings in town - with one describing zebra crossings as “dangerous” due to drivers not always stopping.
By the end of the meeting, councillors said it was clear that many residents want the crossing to be kept, and that all feedback would be passed to Wiltshire Council before any decisions are made.
Cllr Mike Sankey called the meeting “a useful opportunity to listen to residents”, adding that the idea of a yellow box on Curzon Street would be explored further.
“The meeting shows there’s a strong feeling to keep the crossing,” said Cllr Thorn in closing.
Following the meeting Cllr Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls told Calne News: “The overwhelming consensus at the meeting was that residents want to keep the pedestrian crossing, while recognising the need for improvements to the timing and synchronisation of the traffic lights.
"We will be seeking further consultation at a different time of day to ensure a wider range of people can engage with the issue. It was a particularly productive meeting, and I was pleased with the strong level of attendance.”
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