COACH passengers arriving in Salisbury can now enjoy enhanced facilities following an extensive makeover.

Salisbury Coach Park and the main footpaths through the central car park area are reopening today (November 14) after work has been undertaken to brighten up the area by the Environment Agency as part of the River Park scheme.

The work includes a vibrant mural from local artist, Fred Fieber, at the Coach Park toilet block which represents the ecology within the rivers local to Salisbury.

A small pocket park has been created south of the Elai Restaurant and a welcome area with seating and an information board has been created close to the new foot bridge.

As well as this, the drop off coach park found at Mill Stream Approach provides six coach spaces designated for drop off/pick up only.

An additional ten spaces for coach layovers are available at the Layover Coach Park within the Central Car Park.

As part of this work the Mill Stream Approach Bridge will also be reopened to traffic today (November 14), with traffic flow restored to the Approach Road to the Central Car Park from the A36.

Wiltshire Council says at present car traffic is still being allowed to entre the Central Car Park from Avon Approach, but that will shortly be returned as an access for HGVs only.

Councillor Tamara Reay, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “We are delighted the Coach Park works have been finished to such a high standard offering a great first impression for people visiting Salisbury.

“To maximise Salisbury’s potential as a prime destination and to boost our visitor economy, it is important we provide high quality facilities for coaches and passengers eager to explore our historic medieval city.”

The Environment Agency will continue to have a presence in the Central Car park over the coming months whilst final elements of the scheme and snagging issues are picked up.

There will also be further seasonal works to be completed in Spring 2025 to complete the final scheme.

Ron Curtis, Environment Agency Wessex area flood risk manager, said: “The Environment Agency is pleased to have been able to complete this element of the River Park Project alongside Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council.

“Alongside the benefits it will bring to visitors to Salisbury it will help reduce flood risk and improve the water quality within the River Avon.

“We look forward to now seeing the remaining elements of work completed in the other parts of the River Park scheme.”