MANY people living in North Petherton would rather shop in Taunton than nearby Bridgwater.

It may seem hard to believe, but the reason they give is that Taunton is less traffic logged. 

Although it means a longer drive, the residents are fed up getting stuck in jams as they try to head into Bridgwater and prefer to nip into the county town.

Several of them spoke out about the problem of traffic congestion in and around Bridgwater at the annual meeting of North Petherton Town Council on Monday.

One resident said: "Traffic is ridiculous.

"It's easier to go shopping in Taunton than get to Bridgwater because there is so much traffic coming off Junction 24 of the M5 going into town.

Cllr Marion Denham said: "You just cannot get to Bridgwater these days.

"It often takes 45 minutes to get from here to Bridgwater Hospital even though it is just up the road."

Another resident said: "I never go anywhere in my car on a Friday afternoon because it is just gridlock."

North Petherton town centre to Bridgwater town centre is approximately a 3.5 mile journey, whereas Taunton is more than double that at 8.1 miles.

But many of the people from North Petherton say the traffic, particularly at peak times, puts them off going into Bridgwater.