Salisbury residents have criticised the council’s redevelopment of Fisherton Street.
The “major enhancement scheme”, part of a £9 million investment aimed at revitalising public spaces, involved broadening the pavement and resurfacing the road.
Last week Wiltshire Council said the project was “substantially complete” and will make it “easier, more attractive and more convenient to travel by foot into the city centre.”
But the development has been criticised for taking too long, driving business away from local shops, and raising concerns about congestion.
Resident Joel Moss said the scheme wasn’t worth the money.
“It’s not the best idea in the world, is it?” he said. “They’ve narrowed the lane, they’ve put two bus stops right opposite each other.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a one way or two way or what. And it has taken forever.”
Locals fear the narrowing of the road will cause congestion problems, particularly as a portion of the street is set to become a one way road.
Graham Jagger, another Salisbury resident, said: “I’m worried about what’s going to happen parking wise.
“Disabled people will be able to park on the double yellow, and that’s really going to limit the width of the road.”
He outlined the one way portion of the road, and said “it will absolutely cause congestion”.
Residents also pointed out the location of the street’s bus stop, as the stops are directly opposite each other on both sides of the road.
Elizabeth Obe, owner of Exquisite Hair, a hairdresser on Fisherton Street, said she thinks the location of the stops will cause congestion.
“How is that going to work?” she said. “We get our deliveries, lorries park here, and now the road is more narrow.
“So now when the lorries park that is going to cause chaos. I don’t know if this was thought through.
“We weren’t consulted about what was going to happen so it was just, wait and see. I don’t think the council has thought this through.”
Elizabeth added that she felt the pavement did not need expanding.
“It was sufficient,” she said. “No one was falling over each other.”
They were trying to reduce speeding, from what I gather, but I’ve been here for 14 years and I’ve never noticed a problem before.”
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