RESIDENTS living in a new Taunton development are up in arms over their promised roundabout.

Between 2011 and 2012, the former Station Farm site in Greenway Road, Bishops Lydeard, was built into the area now known as Station Green.

Taylor Wimpey of Exeter created 39 residential properties, along with the provision of a new roundabout at the junction of Station Road and the A358.

Four years on, there is still no roundabout.

John Collier, parish councillor for Bishops Lydeard, who lives at Station Road, says he is fed up of the delay.

"In November 2011, Taunton Deane Borough Council granted conditional planning consent for Taylor Wimpey to build 39 residential properties at the former Station Farm site," he said.

"The planning consent was conditional upon not more than 50% of the open market housing being occupied until works had been completed by Taylor Wimpey, such as provision of a new roundabout.

"Years on, all of the housing has long been occupied but none of the highway improvements have been provided.

"Many anticipated start dates for the roundabout construction have lapsed without any work being carried out.

"The glaring error was the failure to take into account the effect of the additional weight of the construction on a nearby underpass, which has existed for decades."

John says the problem us the way this project has been managed.

"It's a project management issue," he added.

"Taylor Wimpey is responsible for the design process and appointment of a construction contractor, whilst Somerset County Council Highways has responsibility for ensuring the design meets the relevant highways standards.

"Surely, it's time for all parties to acknowledge that this approach isn't working, and set up a single top-level integrated project team to troubleshoot the blockages that are preventing this much needed work from being completed?

"Surely, this is not too much to ask?

"There is frustration among residents and we're all fed up- the speed of the traffic is an issue a roundabout will help with."

Henry Davenport, chair of Bishops Lydeard parish council, said: "The Parish Council has now heard enough excuses and is not prepared to sit back and listen to any more.  "We shall now take such action as may be open to us and I do not rule out taking legal action."

Resident Paul Partington said: "Both Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Borough Council appear to be inefficient and ineffective.

"I believe there should have been a proper technical review and safety audit of the developer’s design for the roundabout and other highway works first."

A Taylor Wimpey spokesman said: “We have been in extensive discussions with Somerset County Council for four years now regarding the design of the highway works.

"The design has evolved over this period and the new roundabout plans now include the reconstruction of the underpass at the expense of Somerset County Council, as agreed by the local authority.

"Our latest design for the roundabout and associated works was submitted to Somerset County Council on December 16 and we await the council’s technical approval of these plans, which is required before any works may proceed.

"We remain committed to delivering these works and believe we are now close to reaching an agreement."

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: "Permission for a development on Station Road, Bishops Lydeard, was granted by the District Council in 2011 and included a Section 106 Legal Agreement with the developer.

"Somerset County Council was not a signatory to this so we were unable to enforce the conditions regarding highway improvements which were agreed.

"In 2014, we entered into a separate legal agreement (Section 278) with the developer to enable the highway works to go ahead.

"Since then we have been working with them and a designer to move this forward. There have been various issues raised through the design process which have resulted in significant redesigns being required.

"We are now at a point where there are only a few items which need to be addressed, mainly concerned with the new subway.

"We continue to work closely with the developer and designers and hope to see the works completed as quickly as possible."