Community leaders in Peasedown have expressed their disappointment following months of silence from the Council over proposals to carry out a feasibility study on a dangerous junction.
For over a decade the community has called for further safety measures to be implemented at the Bath Road/A367 junction at the southern end of the village.
In February this year, pressure from Peasedown councillors, the parish council and local residents’ association led to cross-party support being gained for the project.
B&NES Councillor Karen Walker (Independent, Peasedown St John) said: “After a decade of campaigning, and another accident earlier this year at this junction, it was encouraging to finally receive cross party support.
“At February’s B&NES Council budget meeting at the Guildhall, the Labour Party, Conservatives, Independents, and even the Lib Dems all rallied together to ensure this decision was made.
“Now the local elections are over though, support for the plans seems to have diminished with the £30,000 set aside left untouched.
“The safety of drivers and pedestrians must take priority over party politics – which in the past has delayed changes being made at this junction.”
The February meeting, which saw B&NES Council set the council tax for the 2015/16 financial year and decide how to spend its £250 million budget, agreed to set aside £30,000 from the Traffic Management Budget for a full feasibility study and design statement.
This is to include a comprehensive public consultation, negotiation with nearby landowners over land allocation that might be needed to build a roundabout, and a full professional architectural design being put together.
B&NES Councillor Sarah Bevan (Independent, Peasedown), who has been successful at securing road safety changes at this junction before, added:
“For a number of years local residents have expressed concerns over using this junction, which is why I arranged for the current left turn filter lane to be implemented to reduce the buildup of traffic from Radstock; for the dramatic road surface colour and texture change; for a reduced speed limit on the A367 at this location, on the approaches in both directions; and for much clearer signage.
“With a recent increase in road traffic accidents here though it’s time to look again at what further measures can be taken to ensure drivers feel safe when leaving Bath Road to join the A367.”
Councillors Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan have written to Bath and North East Somerset Council’ Chief Executive, Dr Jo Farrar, to raise concerns about the delay in commencing the feasibility study and to ask for it to begin as soon as possible.
It is hoped that following the preparatory feasibility work, and with a design brief put together, BANES Council will be a position next year to decide on whether to include the full £250,000 capital project costs for a roundabout in the 2016/17 financial year’s budget – if that is what the results of the feasibility show is needed.
