Council 'should consider more overnight roadworks'

A councillor has called for "embarassing" roadworks to be carried out only at night, after they led to traffic disruption.

Somerset Council began work in early-January to replace the obsolete traffic signals at the Dunster Steep junction in Dunster, which connects the A39 between Minehead and Williton to the A396 towards Tiverton.

The upgrade was completed on 1 April ahead of schedule, just in time for the significant increase in traffic as people flocked to the west Somerset coast over the Easter long weekend.

However, councillor Marcus Kravis – who branded the lengthy tailbacks "embarrassing" in March – said the authority should try and cause less disruption in the future.

Anne Way, owner of The Luttrell Arms Hotel in Dunster, said the works affected their business as well as the rest of the village.

"There were queues and people cancelled appointments and arrived very late for lunch bookings. Then people stopped coming altogether," Way said.

"We're relieved it's all over. I would say, well done for finishing them on time."

Kravis spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service about the roadworks at the completed junction.

He said: "It's a relief that it's finished - not just for myself as the local councillor but for every person who lives in west Somerset and travels to and from Minehead.

"Around 80% of the phone calls and emails I've dealt with recently have been related to this issue."

He said for future works, the council would have to look at night-time closures on that stretch of road.

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said the council had been left with no option but to replace the 30-year-old lights, arguing their "sudden failure" would have created even greater disruption for motorists.

He added: "This has been a challenging project to deliver on a busy road with few alternative routes.

"Therefore I'm pleased we've been able to accelerate the programme and complete the works ahead of schedule and in time for the Easter holidays."

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