GAZETTE & HERALD: WORK to transform the crumbling railway arches and subway at the foot of New Road, Chippenham into a stunning new gateway to the town, will get under way in August, when Network Rail begins vital repairs on the viaduct.

During the next two years, Wiltshire County Council, Network Rail and the district and town councils plan to work together to renovate the structure and transform the area at its feet into a welcoming entrance to the town.

Above ground, patched up brickwork will be replaced by stone, while the subway will be filled in and the area landscaped.

There may even be a statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who built the arches, erected in tribute to him.

This week, Wiltshire County Council met Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust to get the ball rolling.

Tim Jones, highways improvements manager at the council, said: "Starting in August, Network Rail will be spending £0.25 million on masonry and drainage work on the viaduct, while the Heritage Trust has donated funds to replace brickwork with stone and erect new downflow pipes.

"We have told Network Rail that we would like there to be as little disruption to the town as possible, so this will mainly take place during the evenings and will involve hydraulic platforms."

He added: "Plans to floodlight the arches from below could also go forward from then too, but it may be that Network Rail chooses to leave this until further drainage work is carried out on the track in 2006/7."

Mr Jones said that the council would be starting work on filling in the subway at the end of this summer, but that because of the need to install two new pedestrian crossings in New Road, this work would first be subject to traffic orders.

"But if all goes well, the main infilling of the subway would then begin in the New Year."

Developer HPH, which owns a number of buildings in the Chippenham area, including the recently-renovated Bewley House, has offered to donate £20,000 towards the redevelopment to pay for pavement lighting and furniture.

Mr Jones added: "We plan for this new, attractive area to have two new connecting crossings and a cycle route passing through it. An initial plan is under way and we hope to have a proper design which we can work to in place by the end of the summer."