Porlock villagers' link road misery (From Somerset County Gazette)

Porlock villagers' link road misery

9:00am Friday 11th May 2012 in News By Hannah Green

PEOPLE in Porlock have renewed their attack on the village's controversial link road, which was set to be completed in April.

Residents' concerns range from the effects of the work on site, such as increased traffic problems to Somerset County Council's handling of the project.

The road is being built from the top of Villes Lane through to Sparkhayes Lane, which includes making former cul-de-sac The Meadows into a through-road, as part of a wider scheme to build 15 affordable homes and seven open market houses.

Janice Carter, who lives in a bungalow on Villes Lane, said: “The noise has been terrible, it was so lovely and peaceful here before. It has caused so much disruption.

“Most people in this part of the village are either elderly or disabled and yet they put stairs on Villes Lane so there is no access for a lot of people.

“One week they were burning something on the site for four days and black smoke and soot covered everything.

“I'm not against them building affordable housing, but it's the way they have gone about it. No-one has even apologised to us.”

Diane Griffiths was a member of the residents group which opposed the project, Porlock's Road to Ruin, and lives in The Meadows.

She said: “We are still waiting for speed limit signs and traffic calming measures - having all the traffic through a cul-de-sac full of elderly residents has been a shock, particularly at rush hour.

“The whole thing is a complete scandal and it has devastated the area, but we can't do anything about it. I think it's very sad for the village.”

A county council spokesman said: “The weather over the past week has hindered finishing off works. Access has now been provided along the new link road for HGVs to enable the remaining works to be completed safely.

“There are some utility connection works to be undertaken on the existing A39 which are programmed until May 17 and these will largely be undertaken during weekday evenings to minimise disruption to traffic as far as possible.”