After many years of campaigning by local councillors and residents, the long-awaited opening of Burnham-On-Sea’s ‘road-to-nowhere’, the Frank Foley Parkway, finally took place this afternoon (Tuesday July 7th).
Cllr John Edney, Chairman of Somerset County Council, opened the new section of road between Burnham and Highbridge at 2.30pm, accompanied by several Burnham, Highbridge and Brent councillors.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held next to the new stretch of roadway between Love Lane in Burnham and Pepperall Road in Highbridge and a new plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion by several local councillors.
Cllr Neville Jones, who remembers talking about the road as long ago as 1977, said: “It’s been a long time coming, almost 10 years, to finish such a short bit. This road is going to relieve traffic, particularly on Oxford Street and Burnham Road, and keep traffic safely away from several schools.”
And MP David Heathcoat-Amory added: “It’s been a long struggle but I, along with everyone, am pleased and relieved it is finally open.”
Work to build the missing link got underway in March, as reported here. A 30mph speed limit is in place along the whole length of the route following recent concerns that it could become a ‘race track’, as first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Somerset County Council took the decision in April 2008 to build the final section of the road, when it confirmed that sufficient funds had been secured from local developers for the long-awaited project.
