CHANGE is coming to a controversial one-way system in the centre of Bridgwater, it appears, after a visit by a county chief.
Bill Revans (Lib Dem, North Petherton) was in the town this week to see the new system – at Eastover, Salmon Parade and East Quay – for himself, amid claims the changes are causing traffic problems and harming town-centre trade.
The road changes came after work on the Celebration Mile – a route form the station into the town – and has sparked a row between councillors over who created the plans.
Speaking from Bridgwater, Cllr Revans said: “We’ve implemented exactly what we were left behind by the Conservative-controlled Sedgemoor District Council, which was signed off by Somerset County Council which was Conservative-controlled, signed off by the former Conservative MP, signed off by the Conservative Government – but it’s our mess to sort out.
“Looking round, I can see that there are certainly problems that we need to address.
“We’ve spoken to the officers, we’ll be listening to local residents, local traders, to the town council, to the local ward members, and we’ll see whether we can get some changes here, so that we can get the solution that’s absolutely right for the future of Bridgwater.”
READ MORE: Bridgwater Celebration Mile work ‘simply not good enough’, says council chief
READ MORE: Conservative leader of Somerset Council blasts Bridgwater roadworks as “absolute shambles”
The visit came after MP Ashley Fox (Con, Bridgwater) and Conservative leader on Somerset Council, Cllr Diogo Rodrigues, blasted the new layout.
Cllr Rodrigues said traffic had “become worse, not better”, since the changes.
“Residents and businesses are feeling the impact,” he said. “What used to be simple every-day journeys have become frustrating and time-consuming, and more cars are now stuck in queues.”
But the Lib Dem administration at Somerset Council has maintained it has simply overseen the implementation of plans created by the previous Conservative leadership at Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset Council.
Meanwhile, whoever is to blame for the mistakes, it looks like change is going to come.
READ MORE: Bridgwater news from your Somerset Leveller
You can’t beat a bit of political blame culture to off-set council lead mistakes. One assumes there was a “ghost” project manager overseeing this work, or did they just disappear when Somerset Council took “control”?
Clearly a major failing in the capability of staff to deliver the project. Poor project managment from start to finish. An unreasonable length of time to complete.