Multiple people have been in touch the last few days about the concurrent road closures in and around Cheddar causing regular gridlock in the centre of the village. Proper sequencing of these roadworks would have eased congestion significantly. This afternoon, council campaigner Graham Godwin-Pearson has written to the portfolio holder at Somerset Council to ask about the issue:-
Cllr Richard Wilkins
Somerset Council
County Hall
Taunton
TA1 4DY
Dear Richard,
I hope that you are well.
You may have heard about the traffic woes in Cheddar this week, caused by the concurrent road closures in and around the village.
The headline long-term closure of Draycott Road due to gas main works, about which you and I spoke before the Executive meeting in June, is diverting traffic through Wedmore, but when drivers arrive in Cheddar from Clewer on the the Lower New Road, they are confronted with Bristol Water’s closure of the bridge at the Sharpham Road junction. This means that all traffic is pushed East onto Station Road in front of the recycling centre and Kings Fitness, where parked cars reduce the road to one lane. This road is busy enough at the best of times with vehicles destined for Kings having to wait in the queue for the recycling centre.
As a result, the length of Station Road and junction with Wideatts Road are both regularly gridlocked. To add to the frustration there are temporary lights again on Upper New Road due to more gas works.
This causes an obvious inconvenience to motorists, delays and increased pollution, but also greater risks - while I was stuck in a traffic jam at that location yesterday I noticed that an ambulance with its blue lights flashing was also stuck and unable to get through. Motorists simply had nowhere to go to let the ambulance pass.
Can I ask how these road works were permitted concurrently?
Were the gas and water works to be staggered, traffic congestion would be greatly reduced. Alternatively, if these works absolutely are needed at the same time, a temporary suspension of parking on Station Road would allow free movement of two-way traffic in and out of the village - including emergency services vehicles.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Graham
