Scenes of mass protest like this one in Berrow last summer are set to be repeated next month when angry villagers step up their campaign to get safety improvements introduced along a busy road.
Berrow’s Local Action Team is planning a protest march in Coast Road on Saturday May 2nd to hike up the pressure on Somerset County Council to introduce a pavement along the road.
Residents have long campaigned for additional safety measures for the route, which is busy with thousands of tourists during the summer months. Burnham’s MP, David Heathcoat-Amory, has previously given his support to the campaign.
A protest was held last August, as pictured, which caused widespread disruption to holidaymakers when long queues of traffic built up across the area.
Berrow Local Action Team Chairman Ken May told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The issue of the Coast Road has dragged on for years, with a wholly inappropriate and totally unacceptable response from the County Council. We are going to change that.”
“This is the first of many and increasingly more frequent and longer protests being planned throughout the holiday season.”
“We are going to cause as much disruption to traffic flows as possible so that our case will be addressed and resolved.”
He added: “The residents are absolutely exasperated at the complacency and ineptitude displayed. It’s OK for Somerset to address urban issues, but there’s been no mention of rural ones.”
“Large amounts of money have even recently been squandered installing dropped kerbs and tactile paving in Berrow – it’s really galling that money has been spent on another scheme.”
The protest on Saturday May 2nd will start at 11am in the church car park and will last an hour.
Berrow’s Local Action Team was formed last October and is campaigning for a youth shelter in Berrow and
RELATED LINKS:
August Bank Holiday protest brings Berrow to a halt
Baby hurt after two vehicle collision in Coast Road
MP tells council ‘stop making excuses’
Cyclist injured in Coast Road accident
MP backs residents’ campaign for safer road in Berrow
Video: statements given by Cllr Ham and Burnham’s MP
