Burnham-On-Sea councillors reacted with dismay on Monday evening (August 18th) to the news that Somerset County Council has rejected calls for a traffic calming scheme on the town’s Esplanade.
Burnham-On-Sea.com recently reported how police and town councillors were pushing for road safety improvements along the South Esplanade (pictured) in order to halt the long-running problem of speeding motorists.
But Somerset County Council’s Head of Highways, Ioan Rees, has written to the council, stating: “The traffic calming of the South Esplanade would have a very low priority for funding from Highways and Local Transport Plan budgets.”
“The proposal is very costly and would contribute very little to the County Highways and Transport priority objectives.”
He went on to state that the low number of accidents along the seafront means there is no strong argument for changes, although he added that the county council would “have no objection to others funding a scheme, provided it met all highway regulations.”
The cost of the proposed traffic calming scheme would cost “at least £70,000 and possibly more up to £100,000” estimates the county council.
The council’s Highways Department also has poured cold water on proposals to turn the southern Esplanade near Quantock Court (pictured right) into a private road, thereby blocking it to public vehicles.
Mr Rees stated in his letter to the council: “It may prove very challenging to demonstrate why the road should no longer be a public highway. The process would have legal costs of about £3,000 plus significant staff costs.” A traffic calming scheme could still cost at least £40,000, he added.
Town and district councillor Neville Jones, who has long campaigned for safety improvements along the Esplanade, told Monday evening’s council meeting: “There appears to be a ‘can’t do’ attitude here.”
“Changes could easily be made by the county council if there was the will – but it sadly seems to be lacking.”
