Transport
Modern transport has transformed our society and economy. It has enabled us to take advantage of a wide range of dispersed opportunities and to keep in contact with family and friends. Advances in road haulage and distribution methods have stimulated economic growth by helping to provide us with unparalleled consumer choices, a 24-hour society and just-in-time deliveries.
At the same time, however, our reliance on the private car and the lorry has led to busier and more congested roads. This, in turn, has resulted in fewer people keeping healthy through walking and cycling, increased concerns with regard to noise and other community aspects, accessibility issues for people who rely on public transport, and significant environmental impacts such as air pollution and climate change.
So, while transport can be viewed as simply a ‘means to an end’ (i.e. it just gets us from A to B), in reality it’s a key element of a modern society with impacts on the economy, climate change, people’s health, social exclusion, street scenes and the countryside.
This page provides a range of key indicators relating to transport in Wiltshire and is intended as a resource to assist with the identification of local priorities at community area level. For each indicator, data for the most recent single year or aggregated time period is shown by community area. It should be noted that as data has been drawn from multiple sources, time periods may vary. The specific time periods and the relevant data sources are described in the commentary boxes below each chart.
The information below covers the following areas:
Links to other thematic areas
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Road length by classification (kms)
Wiltshire has over 4,500km of roads. 12.6% of the roads are classified as principal roads (A Class), 44.2% as non-principal roads (B and C Class) and 43.2% as non-principal unclassified roads. The South West Area Board covers the largest geographic area and has the longest road network (538 kms). However, Chippenham which has the second longest road network (386 kms) actually covers the 10th largest area compared to the other community area boards. Malmesbury has the third longest road network (352 kms).
Definition: Principal and non-principal road length in kilometres.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Highways, 2019/20.
Proportion of road length to be considered for treatment, 2019/20
The lengths to be considered for treatment are derived from a machine based road survey called SCANNER (Surface Condition Assessment for the National Network of Roads). SCANNER vehicles use lasers and downward facing cameras to measure a variety of road defects that establish an overall condition for the road. Data is analysed using nationally agreed algorithms set by the Department for Transport.
Definition: Proportion of road length to be considered for treatment, by road classification.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Highways, 2019/20.
Road resurfacing costs, 2019/20
Wiltshire Highways have a rolling 5 year plan of Major Maintenance works, using information provided from the SCANNER survey and site assessment. Following confirmation of the budget, the final version of the plan is agreed and works are costed. The figures provided here show the total committed spend for the financial year 2019-2020, which was £11,869,870.
Definition: Committed spend on road resurfacing, 2019/20.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Highways, 2019/20.
Number of potholes repaired
These figures show the number of potholes repaired between the 1st January 2019 and the 31st December 2019. In total, 11,047 potholes were repaired across Wiltshire.
Definition: Number of potholes repaired in 2019.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Highways, 2019.
LED street lights as a proportion of street lighting
Wiltshire Council is making a £12 million investment to convert its street lighting to LED lighting. The older types of lights are going out of production and the cost of energy is becoming prohibitive. The new lights are much more energy efficient and have a reduced carbon footprint. For more information, please click here.
Definition: LED street lights as a proportion of street lighting.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Highways, February 2020.
Average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph) on A-roads
Extreme care is needed in interpreting this table, especially making comparisons. Salisbury CA is very compact and urban in nature, whereas larger community areas include a significant length of inter-urban A-roads. This is especially true of Amesbury, Tisbury, Mere and Warminster, in which the A303T / A36T represent a large proportion of the A-road length.
Definition: Average speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, from 07:00-09:00 through the year 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of A-class road links and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the year.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2017.
Change in average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph), 2012-2017 on A-roads
While the speed of light goods vehicles appears to have fallen over the five-year period in most community areas, a separate analysis has shown that there is no correlation between this speed decrease and the change in (24-hour) traffic flows.
Definition: Change in average morning peak speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, between Autumn 2012 and 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of A-class road links and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during the 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the relevant period.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2012-2017.
Average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph) on B-roads
There is no data for Calne, Salisbury or Tidworth as these community areas have no B-class roads.
Definition: Average speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, from 07:00-09:00 through the year 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of B-class road links and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the year.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2017.
Change in average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph), 2012-2017 on B-roads
There is no data for Calne, Salisbury or Tidworth as these community areas do not have any B-class roads. In contrast with the A-roads, the average speed on B-roads has in most cases increased slightly.
Definition: Change in average morning peak speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, between Autumn 2012 and 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of B-class road links and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during the 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the relevant period.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2012-2017.
Average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph) on Minor roads
The minor roads category covers roads that are neither A-class or B-class but serve a traffic distribution function in urban areas or provide links between towns and villages.
Definition: Average speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, from 07:00-09:00 through the year 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of road links identified as "minor" and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the year.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2017.
Change in average morning peak (7am-9am) traffic speed (mph), 2012-2017 on Minor roads
With the exception of Tisbury Community Area, there has been a reduction in the speed on minor roads - sometimes quite significant. Some of the delay in urban areas is attributable to junction delays, either where increasing traffic (e.g. from new housing developments) is lengthening queuing at existing junctions, or where the developments have added new junctions that cause vehicles to slow down. Speed reductions are also seen on rural lanes; it is not yet clear whether this is a significant issue (as opposed to a chance occurrence).
Definition: Change in average morning peak speeds experienced by light goods vehicles, as the most robust sample, between Autumn 2012 and 2017. The average speed is based on the total length of road links identified as "minor" and the sum of the time to traverse each link once during the 07:00-09:00. This link traversal time is based on historical data from Teletrac Navman Ltd aggregated into 15-minute periods and averaged throughout the relevant period.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2012-2017.
Indicative traffic flow changes (unweighted), 2012-2017
This indicator attempts to catch the "flavour" of traffic flow change for each community area using existing long-term monitoring points. During the five year period, flows on many classified roads (but not all) resumed an upward trend after falling from a peak in 2007 prior to the economic downturn. There is a marked northeast-southwest disparity in the growth rates, with the notable exception of Bradford on Avon.
Definition: Average of 7-day 24-hour traffic flow percentage change (2012-2017) observed at individual flow monitoring points within the community area. No weighting is applied (so a 1% change on a B road carries as much weight as a 1% change on a trunk road). Monitoring points are mainly inter-urban but with a number of central sites in the larger towns.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Transport and Development, 2012-2017.
Number of speed surveys conducted, 2017-2019, by outcome of survey
Communities with concerns about the speed of traffic through their area can raise a request for a speed survey through their local Parish or Town Council, using a standard form found on the Wiltshire Council website. The results of such surveys are used to determine if the location meets criteria for the support of a Community Speed Watch initiative or for Police enforcement, and can be used to inform highways improvement schemes. The surveys use equipment comprising of two rubber tubes stretched across the carriageway and a data box, secured to street furniture, collecting data for 24 hours per day over a 7-day period on the speed, classification and volumes of vehicles. The equipment may be on site for up to two weeks and is usually only installed during school term times. Locations must be suitable for the installation and operation of the equipment in order to collect accurate data.
Definition: Speed surveys conducted between 2017 and 2019, by outcome of survey
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Sustainable Transport, 2017-2019.
Killed or seriously injured casualties on Wiltshire roads, crude rate per 100,000 population
Traffic collisions are a major cause of preventable deaths and morbidity. Between 2016-18, almost 700 casualties resulting in serious injury or fatality were recorded on Wiltshire roads, equivalent to a rate of 46 casualties per 100,000 persons. Rates of casualties resulting in serious injury or fatality were lower than that reported across Wiltshire in Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Melksham, Salisbury, Southern Wiltshire, Tidworth, Trowbridge and Westbury community areas.
Definition: The number of people reported killed or seriously injured (KSI) on Wiltshire roads expressed as a rate per 100,000 persons.
Data Source and Time Period: Road accidents and safety statistics, Department for Transport, 2016-2018.
Ticket sales in Wiltshire Council car parks
Car parks are an important part of our transport network. A good parking system reduces the barriers visitors have to come to a location. 3.28 million tickets were sold in Wiltshire Council car parks in the 11 month period from 1st Jan 2019 to 30th November 2019. 28% of these sales were for car parks in Salisbury.
Definition: Ticket sales in key Wiltshire Council car parks.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Parking Services, 01/01/2019-30/11/2019.
Penalty charge notices (parking fines) issued, Jan 2019 - Jan 2020
The number of PCNs issued has increased since the previous year. This is largely due to an investment in equipment for the Civil Enforcement Officers and also additional training supplied. Southern Wiltshire has returned a zero figure this year due to the low level of restrictions in place and also to high levels of compliance in this community area.
Definition: Penalty Charge Notices issued by Wiltshire Council.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Parking Services, 01/01/2019 - 30/01/2020.
Electric vehicle public charging points, November 2019
Reducing carbon emissions is a priority for Wiltshire Council. The council passed a motion entitled ‘Acknowledging a Climate Emergency and Proposing the Way Forward’ on 26 February 2019 that included the ambition to “Seek to make the County of Wiltshire carbon neutral by 2030”. A task group of the council’s Environment Select Committee has been set up to develop recommendations and a plan to achieve this challenging ambition. The findings of this process will feed through to the council’s review of its business plan, local plan and local transport plan. In addition, a regional study of EV infrastructure including chargepoint provision is being progressed by the Western Gateway Sub-national Transport Body.
In Wiltshire there are 19 charging devices per 100,000 population compared to 23 in the UK, 22 in England and 21 in the South West. These figures show that the number of these in Wiltshire per 100,000 population is not much below the England or South West average. Wiltshire Council is not complacent about this however and is seeking to take advantage of realistic opportunities to improve the EV charging offer in Wiltshire. For instance, where the council is carrying out development of its own estate, consideration is being given to installing new EV chargepoints.
Current projects include:
1. Twelve chargepoints are planned (with ducting installed for more) in the Sadler’s Mead Multi-Storey car park project in Chippenham.
2. Two chargepoints are planned for the Melksham Campus.
3. Two chargepoints are planned for the Warminster Depot refurbishment.
4. Chargepoints are proposed but not yet specified for the High Post and Royal Wootton Bassett Depot refurbishment projects, and the Porton Science Park build. The Council is also awaiting with interest the publication of the Government’s ‘Future of Mobility: Rural Strategy’.
Definition: Electric vehicle public charging points.
Data Source and Time Period: https://www.zap-map.com/live/, November 2019.
Average daily passengers on Salisbury Park and Ride
The Park & Ride was free from 16th March 2018 to 30th September 2019, which is likely to have caused the rise in the average daily numbers of passengers between 2017/18 and 2018/19 (despite the Novichok incident causing a fall in visitors). Please note that the format of these figures is subject to change.
Definition: Average daily passengers on Salisbury Park and Ride.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Sustainable Transport, 2017/18 - 2018/19.
Number of Community Transport schemes
Community Transport is the name given to any type of transport run on a not-for-profit basis to assist people who cannot access private or public transport. There might be a variety of reasons why people use Community Transport such as lack of available public transport, health, disability or mobility problems, cost factors and other personal reasons. Community Transport is a real solution to an important local issue and it helps to mobilise and engage local communities. For more information on Community Transport in Wiltshire and Swindon, including a directory of current services, please click here.
Definition: Number of Community Transport schemes supported by Community First.
Data Source and Time Period: Community First, 21st Jan 2020.
Number of children completing Walk Safe training
As part of the Council's sustainable travel agenda, the emphasis is upon encouraging children to walk, scoot or cycle to school rather than use the car. Walk Safe supports schools in their involvement with the Wiltshire Healthy Schools Programme making sure children receive sound pedestrian training and are able to experience traffic and roads in a controlled environment, helping them to become safe independent road users. For more information, please click here.
Definition: Number of children completing Walk Safe KS1 training, KS2 walk training (figures for KS2 classroom training are not charted), and Y6 training between September 2018 and 18th February 2020, based on location of school or training centre.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Sustainable Transport, September 2018 - February 2020.
Number of children completing Scootability training
As part of the Council's sustainable travel agenda, the emphasis is upon encouraging children to walk, scoot or cycle to school rather than use the car. Wiltshire Council's Road Safety Team offer 1 hour fun based scooter skills safety sessions to Wiltshire primary schools. They are offered to all primary school pupils from Year 1 to Year 6, targeting Year 3 upwards who may be travelling independently to/from school and taking more risks in and around traffic. For more information, please click here.
Definition: Number of children completing Scootability training between September 2018 and 18th February 2020, based on location of school or training centre.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Sustainable Transport. September 2018 - February 2020.
Number of children completing Bikeability training
As part of the Council's sustainable travel agenda, the emphasis is upon encouraging children to walk, scoot or cycle to school rather than use the car. Since 2007, the national Bikeability scheme has given thousands of children the chance to learn to ride a bike and develop the skills needed to ride safely. It also introduces young people to cycling as an everyday activity - an alternative mode of transport, an enjoyable pastime and a sport which brings a healthier lifestyle and lots of fun. For more information, please click here.
Definition: Number of children completing Bikeability training between September 2019 and 18th February 2020, based on location of school or training centre.
Data Source and Time Period: Wiltshire Council, Sustainable Transport, September 2019 - February 2020.