News & Events

Traffic protest in Crewkerne

(Crewkerne)

Protesters took to the streets of Crewkerne and Misterton last Saturday, angry at a lack of progress to make local streets safer for pedestrians.

Crewkerne traffic has been an issue for many years, but with recent developments including a new housing estate near Maiden Beech School, more housing off North Street and the new Waitrose store, traffic levels have increased noticeably. The A356 runs through the centre of the town, and Market Street (the High Street) - which is the main shopping street - is blighted by high levels of HGV and other traffic.

The planned CLR development of 700 homes on the edge of Crewkerne will only exacerbate the situation in the town centre with cars, if it goes ahead. It will provide a link road for traffic, esp HGV's, to avoid the centre of Crewkerne though.

Specific areas of concern include North Street, where speeding traffic passes inches from schoolchildren walking on a narrow pavement to and from Ashlands Primary School.

Misterton has seen a small 20 zone implemented outside the Primary School only, and HGV's have particular problems on one tight bend. On-street parking is an issue on Middle Street, and the length of the A356 through the village affects pedestrians, with narrow pavements or no pavements at all.

Action on traffic was a priority in ABCD's Community Plan, and SCC Highways delivered a £60,000 proposed scheme which included a 20mph zone for the town centre. However, Crewkerne Town Council refused to approve the 20 zone because Highways recommended making North St. one-way to do this.  

The protestors are hoping that their elected Leaders can find a common-sense solution to North Street before there are more serious injuries, and to implement a wide 20 zone soon.

The march gained regional TV coverage and appeared on the BBC website.

Traffic and Urban Design Consultant Ben Hamilton-Baillie produced a traffic study on Crewkerne last year - read more here.

Created on February 18th 2009

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