Councillor Christopher Devine’s enthusiastic support for the station’s automatic ticket barriers (Journal, October 15) has disregarded the wider accessibility issues arising from closure of the station’s northern entrance which formed part of these changes.

Cllr Devine’s claim that the changes are supported by Wiltshire Council is not borne out by correspondence I have seen.

The council, as highways authority, recommended that planning permission which involved closure of the northern entrance be refused.

It pointed out that the plans prejudiced the proposed Fisherton Street transport hub which features in the Local Transport Plan and were not in accord with government policy.

After South West Trains had determined in May this year that planning permission was not required, only listed building consent, they received a letter from Wiltshire Council’s development control pointing out that there was considerable opposition to the proposed closure of the existing pedestrian entrance on the north side of the station on accessibility grounds – “a view which officers would support”.

Wiltshire Council needs to do much more to improve the bus-rail interchange at Salisbury. Plans to develop a ‘hub’ around the Fisherton Street bus stops on the northern side form part of the Local Transport Plan and represent the best option we are likely to get in Salisbury, given the reluctance of the bus company to route buses via the station forecourt.

It is deeply regrettable that a councillor seemingly speaking on behalf of the council has completely ignored the fact that closure of the northern entrance not only makes station access more difficult for existing bus users and those coming to/from the station from the north on foot or bicycle but also removes any hope of Salisbury getting this improved bus-rail interchange which has been a council aspiration for years.

Margaret Willmot
Salisbury