SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: More traffic disruption set for Chard town centre

TRADERS and people living in the town centre are going to be in “uproar” with news that more traffic disruption is heading for the heart of Chard.

Members of Chard Town Council’s planning and highways committee last week heard that Somerset County Council is to carry out resurfacing work in Fore Street and High Street sometime in 2016-17.

Cllr Jason Baker said “virtually every trader would be up in arms” at more roadworks coming their way.

“There’s going to be uproar,” he said.

The Mayor, Cllr Dave Bulmer, added that it should be welcomed the work is going to be done.

“The road is in a poor condition,” he said. “It is inevitable that work is going to be done.”

It was suggested that perhaps the work could be done at night to try and reduce the inevitable disruption during the day.

But Cllr Bulmer said there were people who lived in the town centre and would be trying to sleep at night.

“Whenever you do it you are going to be damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” he said.

Traders were left furious earlier this year when large sections of the A30 through the centre of the town were dug up by Western Power Distribution contractors to lay cables for a new solar farm on Snowdon Hill.

Cllr Irene Glynn said that some people had been left angry back then because they had been unaware that the cable work was going to happen.

The county council is now asking for local views for a “suitable time” for when the planned resurfacing work could be carried out.

Cllrs Jason Baker and Amanda Broom are to talk with town centre traders and residents for their views.

Tags:
News.