The safety of a busy Burnham-On-Sea road junction was in the spotlight on Thursday (September 17th) when councillors met a senior road engineer to discuss much-needed improvements.
Burnham-On-Sea.com first reported in July that worried councillors had called for changes to be made to the Pier Street junction, where they claim an ‘accident is waiting to happen.’
On Thursday morning, the County Council’s road traffic engineer Andy Boyle met local County Councillors Peter Burridge-Clayton and John Woodman, plus district ward member Arthur Thorogood at the site, as pictured here.
They aired their concerns that the service road from Morrisons onto Pier Street is dangerous to cross because it is poorly lit and also safety bollards in the central refuge have been removed during recent work to introduce a set of traffic lights.
Cllr Burridge-Clayton told Burnham-On-Sea.com the meeting had been positive. He said: “We had a very productive meeting where we had the opportunity to show Mr Boyle numerous areas of concern at this site.”
“Mr Boyle was very positive in his response and assured us Somerset County Council has every intention of finishing the project and ensure all four junctions have crossing signals.”
“The service road would be properly lined and signed and the traffic islands put back in order, amongst other improvements.”
“He suggested as soon as the legal issues regarding the service road have been sorted out, the work would begin.”
“At this stage he could not say how soon this will be, but we will be talking to both councils and Morrisons to secure a swift resolution to the problem.”
Cllr Burridge-Clayton added: “I was very encouraged and felt there was a genuine desire to get things done. Cllr Woodman and I will keep the pressure on at a County level and Cllr Thorogood is determined to work with Sedgemoor as the ward member until this issue comes to a satisfactory conclusion.”
