Somerset County Council has this week defended its decision to carry out five weeks of major roadworks along a key route through Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge at the height of the tourist season.
Burnham Road will be partially closed from 1st August to 2nd September while the council’s highways team resurfaces pavements.
Cllr Chris Williams, whose ward includes the affected road, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The County Council only informed us six days ago it was going to carry out this work and didn’t give us a chance to say it would be more sensible to carry it out during the autumn when the town is quieter.”
“More notice would have been appreciated. While motorists will be disrupted by the work, we have been assured that Burnham Road will be open at all times and that traffic lights will be used to keep traffic flowing.”
A Somerset County Council spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Work has been scheduled during the school holidays during off peak times to minimise disruption to traffic.”
“The work is to resurface the footway, which is in a poor condition. Temporary traffic lights will be in place from 9.30am to 4.00pm and one lane will be closed when the work is being done. A lane has to be closed to accommodate the heavy machinery.”
Highbridge County Councillor John Woodman added: “It’s always very difficult to carry out roadworks with the least inconvenience. It is impossible to get it 100% right for everyone, but in this case the safety of children at King Alfred School has been the top priority, which should be reassuring to parents.”
