4 days Ago
Tempers boiled over with traffic management staff allegedly being abusive to motorists, while a lorry hit a cottage beside a narrow village road. A councillor blamed Somerset Council for poor and incorrect signage and a lack of communication during surface dressing work on a section of the A358. Recommended reading: 'Emu' now confirmed to be safe after running on busy road near Taunton Fallen tree leads to full A358 closure between Taunton and Minehead And publican Jane Bishop, who owns the Farmers Arms, at Combe Florey, said: “There was absolute chaos.
“Initially, the road was closed during the day between the Bishops Lydeard and Cotford St Luke roundabouts. “Then the road was closed for three evenings from 6.30pm to 11.
30pm at the weekend. “It was badly signed. There was a ‘road ahead closed’ sign at Williton and then people were told there was access from the Cotford St Luke roundabout to Bishops Lydeard - except there wasn’t.
“Taunton to Williton was blocked off and every little lane was gridlocked. “There was a complete lack of communication. It was farcical.
” She added that a timber lorry with a double trailer became stuck while being driven through Halse, ripping the fascia board off a cottage and severing the phone and internet connection. Cllr Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s lead member for economic development, planning and assets, said some of the work had to be done during the day for technical reasons, while the evening work involved replacing cats’ eyes and white lining. He added: “The work itself was good, although it was quite disruptive.
But communication from the council and the contractor has been really poor. “On a number of occasions the council told us the slip road into Bishops Lydeard would be open, but it wasn’t. “The diversion efforts weren’t good enough and people din’t know what the alternative way was.
“I did what I could on Facebook, but that was sometimes incorrect due to the wrong information from the council. “The council and the contractor could have done better.” Cllr Rigby said: “There were also reports of several incidents of traffic management staff being abusive to the public, which is totally unacceptable.
That’s being investigated by the council.” The council is obliged to advertise diversions on the same class of road as the one where the work is being carried out, which would have meant travelling from Taunton to Williton via the A38 through North Petherton and Bridgwater. “No one is going to do that,” said Mr Rigby.
“It would be best to go through Kingston St Mary and Buncombe Hill, but it’s not a good idea to divert along single track lanes.”.
