Angry campaigners in Berrow who are calling for a new pavement to be introduced along a dangerous stretch of road in the village will hold their second protest march of the year on Bank Holiday Monday (May 31st).
Berrow’s Local Action Team told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Sunday that the new protest, which will start at 11am from outside Berrow Church, is crucial to maintain pressure on the County Council ahead of a debate in June when they will be considering the appropriation of funding from the 2011 Somerset Local Transport Plan.
The protest is certain to cause more disruption to motorists during one of the area’s busiest weekends of the year for tourists.
At the same time, Berrow Local Action Team Chairman Ken May has written to Somerset County Council leader Ken Maddox this week calling for action.
In the letter, he writes: “I wish to reiterate the serious concerns that the Berrow Local Action Team, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, plus the residents of Berrow and holidaying visitors have with the lack of footpath, between Hurn Lane and a point a few metres north of Manor Way.”
“Such is the concern of the police that they have agreed at the request of the local community to support them over this issue in the PACT (Police And Communities Together) initiative. At the last protest walk held on 1st May, a police officer stated ‘I think we have been very lucky’ in reference to there not having been a serious or fatal accident involving a pedestrian so far.”
“We would have preferred to hold the walk on the Saturday or Sunday, but that would have caused massive upset to a football tournament which is held on those days every year in Berrow. The police consider it unsafe to walk on this road, whether in an organised procession or as an individual. Members of the Speedwatch team will tell you of their conversations with holidaymakers too scared to walk any further.”
“I am told by County Councilors that “If you want it to happen, it will. If you don’t, it won’t”.
