A NEW one-way system could be implemented outside a Somerset primary school as part of a set of improvements to make travelling through the village safer.

Curry Rivel Primary School lies on Church Street in the centre of the village, just north of the busy A378 between Taunton and Langport.

The parish council commissioned an active travel study in 2021, looking at ways to improve pedestrian and cycling access across the village, as well as identifying a safe route between Curry Rivel and Langport to avoid the main road.

Somerset County Council and its successor Somerset Council have been working since this time on detailed proposals for small improvements to the existing road network, providing pupils with safer crossings and slowing traffic down in key areas.

The council has now published the final detailed designs for these improvements, which include turning a crucial section of Church Street one-way and installing new signs near the school to alert motorists.

In addition to the school, Church Street, provided access to the Firehouse public house and the village’s main car park, making it prone to congestion at peak times.

Under the proposals, Church Street will become one-way between the car park and the junction with Water Street, with traffic only being able to move southbound.

Traffic turning onto Church Street from the A378 will still be able to move in both directions, preserving access to the car park and the Firehouse.

A 20mph speed limit will be in force along Church Street, with double yellow lines being installed outside the school to prevent the road from becoming obstructed at pick-up and drop-off times.

Further away from the school, an improved uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point will be put in place on the A378 near the junction with Westfield, providing safer access to and from the village’s recreation ground.

Somerset Council has set aside £65,000 for these improvements, with the parish council urging residents to have their say on the current designs.

A spokesman said: “Although the formal period of consultation is now past, Somerset Transport has offered to listen to any further feedback on these proposals.

“These road and safety proposals have come about as a result of the active travel study conducted in 2022 (and adopted by the parish council in 2023), and as a result of concerns of safety and traffic congestion around the school especially at the start and close of the school day.”

Speaking in early-April, Curry Rivel Primary School headteacher Alison Pook argued that improvements around the school would ease traffic congestion and encourage healthier lifestyles.

She said: “It will decrease the use of cars used to drop-off and pick-up, which causes congestion around the green and the parish car-park.

“This will increase safety for all.”

For more details on the proposed improvements, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/find-small-improvement-schemes/?q=curry+rivel. Comments can be supported via email to  ISDelivery@somerset.gov.uk.

The proposals will be subject to an independent road safety audit before they are finally implemented.

For more information on the Curry Rivel Active Travel Group (which is fundraising to deliver the multi-use path to Langport), email activetravel@curryrivel.org.uk or search for ‘Curry Rivel Active Travel Group’ on Facebook.