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Published:
October 31, 2006
Burnham
residents call for safety improvements at road junction
Alterations
to road markings at a busy Burnham-On-Sea junction have not made
it any safer, town councillors were told this week.
Residents
living near the junction of Oxford Street and Priory Gardens,
pictured above, say chevrons painted on to the junction to divert
traffic have not helped to make it any easier for motorists leaving
the road.
"Visibility
down Oxford Street is still a problem due to the closeness of
parked vehicles to the junction. This makes it dangerous for cars
trying to leave Priory Gardens," said resident Mrs Lovell.
She
is asking the Town Council to consider reducing the number of
parking bays by two car lengths. However, a report by Burnham
Police on the matter did not fully back up her calls.
"Inspector
Baker's advisor on street matters has looked at the junction and
reported back that whilst visibility was compromised slightly,
the perceived danger was greater than the actual danger. He did
say that loosing one parking space might help the sight line for
vehicles trying to turn right out of Priory Close," said
a town council spokeswoman.
"Inspector
Baker said that legally the County Council could limit the weight
of vehicles parking but he did not know of any way to differentiate
between vehicles of varying heights."
It
was agreed that the town council's deputy Clerk would ask Somerset
Highways if they could limit the size of a vehicle other than
by weight, if not the Town Council would need to decide whether
Priory Gardens was any worse than exiting other junctions in the
town.
Discussing
the matter at their latest meeting, Cllr Dennis Davey said "the
problem is no worse here than at certain other junctions in the
town," while Cllr Ken Smout agreed, adding he could not remember
hearing about any accidents at the junction.
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