New lorry diversion signs for beleaguered Burnham street residents?

Published: November 26, 2007
New lorry diversion signs for beleaguered Burnham street residents?

Beleaguered residents of a Burnham-On-Sea street whose lives are plagued by heavy goods vehicles thundering past their homes have welcomed the news that new road signs could soon be introduced directing lorries along alternative routes.

Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to highlight the problem of noisy lorries thundering along Abingdon Street as a shortcut to Oxford Street and Marine Drive in June this year.

Burnham Councillor Arthur Thorogood (pictured) and MP David Heathcoat-Amory both visited the street to see the problem for themselves and put pressure on Somerset County Council's Highways Department to find a solution.

Cllr Thorogood said this week he had received a letter from Chris Betty of the County Highways team proposing new signs be introduced at the junction of Abingdon Street and the High Street, requesting heavy traffic diverts along Marine Drive.

"This is good news," Cllr Thorogood told Burnham-On-Sea.com. "It's not a full restriction on lorries, but would deter traffic and mean lorry drivers would think twice before using Abingdon Street."

Further restrictions are also being considered by the County Council for the street.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory said of the problem earlier in the year: "There is an increasing problem with heavy traffic in town, and we must find a better way of dealing with it."

The residents, pictured here, have concerns about the safety of parents and children using the road to gain access to St Joseph's RC School.