The route of this year’s Burnham-On-Sea Carnival is set to be changed in a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the town.
Burnham Carnival Chairman Phil New says the proposals are aimed at easing traffic congestion and diversions which plagued motorists travelling in and out of the town before last year’s event.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “The committee has met with the police and we’ve proposed not to line up the carts along Queens Drive this year, but to use the Frank Foley Parkway instead.”
“This will ensure that Queens Drive remains open over the carnival weekend until the afternoon of carnival day, Monday 3rd November.”
“It will avoid the diversions of traffic along the A38 that we saw last year when Queens Drive was closed all the way back to the Edithmead roundabout. We apologise for those problems last year which were forced upon us.”
Last year, access to Burnham via Edithmead Lane was not permitted during the road closure, which concerned Home Farm Holiday Park residents and nearby residents.
It led to long queues of traffic along the A38 through Highbridge for motorists travelling into Burnham and there were lengthy delays along the Frank Foley Parkway and Burnham Road for traffic going out of Burnham.
The proposed change has been welcomed this week by town councillors.
Cllr Bill Hancock said: “We saw long queues of traffic along the A38 last year – everything was blocked up. There would have been a big problem if there’d been an emergency requiring emergency services access. I think the new route will be much better.”
And Cllr Louise Parkin added: “There were road closures everywhere last year and motorists were left asking ‘where do I go?’ We need locals and tourists to be made to feel welcome. We want them to come into Burnham for our carnival, so anything that can be done to make it easier is good. I think the changes will help and hope that the police – who asked for the changes last year – will agree.”
