Exclusive: Highbridge councillors hit out at 'Britain's ugliest roundabout'

Published: November 29, 2007
Exclusive: Highbridge councillors hit out at 'Britain's ugliest roundabout'

This Highbridge roundabout has been labled 'Britain's ugliest' by local councillors this week as they launched fresh calls for urgent improvements to the 'hideous' structure.

The lop-sided traffic island on the Bristol Road was opened outside Highbridge's Asda supermarket last month after being hastily finished by workers, but it seems the final appearance was overlooked.

Safety fears at Somerset County Council led to proposals for colourful flowers and grass being axed and what is left is a mass of poorly-designed concrete with a plastic bollard on top!

The matter was discussed at a meeting of town councillors this week, and Cllr Neville Jones, Burnham and Highbridge's Deputy Mayor, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "This is definitely Britain's ugliest roundabout - it's not a good advertisement for Highbridge at all."

"We wanted flowers and landscaping, but were told by the County Council that these would not be allowed because of safety rules. We've been left with a lop-sided structure that looks simply hideous."

Mark Ford, spokesman for Somerset County Council's Highways Department, explained that the authority is currently re-looking at the roundabout's design.

He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The limited size of the roundabout makes soft landscaping, such as grass and flowers, inappropriate."

"The central raised area has been incorrectly constructed and it will be rectified in due course."

"The priority at the time of construction was to complete the works within the assigned programme and have the roundabout operational."

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