RELIEF should be felt in Dunster as the roads open once more for traffic in time for Easter . . . but instead people are unhappy with the new paving slabs.

Work by Wessex Water and Somerset County Council has led to the closure of West Street since January 5 and Church Street since the beginning of February.

A new set of traffic lights, resurfaced roads and new footpaths are all part of major £400,000 highway improvements.

A move by the county council to replace some of the cobbles from West Street with blue lias slabs has ang-ered a lot of residents.

Since the slabs have been laid, 97% of residents surveyed have said they would still prefer Brecon grey stone to be used in West Street, as it is in High Street.

The survey was conducted by the newly formed Dunster Conservation Group, which has over 20 active members.

Resident Christine Moore, for the group, said: “Out of the 444 residents we surveyed only 11 abstained and ten were in favour of the work in West Street.

“The streets have been violated. “We’re not asking for the all the cobbles to be put back – we just want what has been done in High Street to be done in West Street.

“The blue lias stone costs four times as much as the Brecon grey, and the colour and cut are just not appropriate for a medieval village.”

The group has also commissioned a report by local chemist Laurie Hambrook, of Exmoor Environmental Services, who found that blue lias is an alkaline stone in “an acidic sandstone environment” which will eventually “result in cracking of the stone and its eventual degradation”.

Traders have previously spoken out about the detrimental effects the roadworks have had on business, claiming they have discouraged people from visiting the village.

Jill Williams, who owns Chatelaine Antiques in West Street, said: “The roadworks have been devastating for Dunster – we’ve lost an awful lot of trade.

“They’ve finished a couple of days early, so we’re grateful for that, but the whole situation with the cobbles has been uncomfortable.”

A spokesman for the county council said: “We’re now proposing to bring the successful SCC public consultation roadshow to Dunster soon after the election period is over to canvass further views from the local community, and will take this into account when completing our review of the scheme.

“As a sign of how we understand some of the local feelings on this issue we have already listened to the community and have moved this review forward from autumn to early summer.”

There will be a public meeting on April 13 at the Tithe Barn at 6.30pm.