A PROPER northern relief road is needed to stop Wellington grinding to a halt.

That is the view of Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne who says people have been “let down” by a new road built as part of the on-going Longforth Farm development.

Mr Browne has vowed to campaign for a suitable road which will make life easier for people in north Wellington and ease traffic congestion in the town centre.

He said: “Wellington has needed a proper northern relief road for a long time. The traffic congestion around Longforth Road has got very bad at peak times.

“The new cul-de-sac on the Longforth Farm development falls way short of what is needed.

“It will provide access for Relyon vehicles, which is a small benefit, but it is not the proper northern relief road that Wellington desperately needs.”

The cul-de-sac comes off a new roundabout on Taunton Road which is part of the Longforth development.

An additional 500 homes – alongside hundreds of new houses already built at nearby Cades Farm – has prompted fears the town will become gridlocked.

Mr Browne had hoped a proper relief road could also kick-start a new train station for Wellington.

The MP said: “Wellington residents have been badly let down. The Longforth Farm development was an opportunity to fund a proper northern relief road.

“That should have included a bridge over the railway line with the road either joining up at Wardleworth Way or further along the road to Milverton.

“That would also have provided the opportunity for a wider development that included a new Wellington train station.”

While Taunton has benefited from significant infrastructure improvements in recent years, such as the Silk Mills and Third Way bridges, Mr Browne feels Wellington is missing out.

He added: “Wellington’s transport infrastructure is not keeping up with the significant increase in the population of the town.

“I am very frustrated that Taunton Deane Council did not include a proper northern relief road as part of the Longforth Farm development.

“It could have started at either the new roundabout or the Cades Farm roundabout if that had been a better option for local residents. Instead we have a road to nowhere.”

Cllr Mark Edwards, executive councillor for planning and transportation at Taunton Deane Council, said: “The developments in Wellington are progressing as expected and set out in the Core Strategy, the long- term plan for Taunton Deane.

“The new road links to Relyon and so HGVs are already taken out of the town centre.

“The full northern relief road is, however, a long-term proposal and dependent on phased delivery and significant other developments.

“It is hoped this can be achieved by Swallowfield and Relyon moving to the edge of town, releasing their land for housing.

“Taunton Deane Council continues to review all planned developments to ensure they remain realistic over the medium and long term.”