B&NES Council has come under fire this week from Radstock Town Councillors, who say that roadworks in the area should have been timed better. Local motorists have been sitting in long queues for months due to various roadworks in neighbouring Midsomer Norton, Welton, Paulton and three-way traffic lights in Radstock, whilst Bristol Water work to put in new mains for the development in the town.
Whilst essential and carried out by different companies, these works have all come at once – with reports of tensions boiling over and Bristol Water staff in Radstock being abused by drivers. The lights were removed by the weekend, but Frome Road will be closed for the next two to three weeks whilst work continues.
A spokesperson for Bristol Water said: “We have been making really good progress on work within Radstock. We may need to do some more work along Somervale Road, but this should not take very long. We will now be moving on to Frome Road for up to three weeks.”
Radstock Town Councillor, Gary Dando, has expressed his dissatisfaction that work has not been carried out at evenings and weekends, saying that Radstock and its traders could have been spared some of the upheaval. He was also very concerned about the safety of pedestrians who were continuing to use the usual crossing opposite Radstock Co-op. A temporary crossing was in place, but this was not obvious to users, having been moved further down the road.
Speaking this week, Chair of Radstock Town Council, Mike Boulton, said: “Last week’s situation could not have been more chaotic if B&NES had planned chaos. Why were the underground works not completed before starting construction work and why was the temporary pedestrian crossing not marked as such?
“It seems to me that B&NES Council has no idea of planning a major project such as this. In my view, Bristol Water should have done this work much earlier and worked during the off-peak hours to cause minimal disruption. Better still, the plan should have been scrapped, like most of B&NES’ other non-starters.
“I’m appalled by the reported attacks on the workmen, who are only doing their job. Complaints should be directed at B&NES, not them.”
Both Cllr Gary Dando and Cllr Boulton were unhappy that B&NES Highways Officers had not accepted their invitation to come to the town.
Radstock trader, Shane Kitchen, said that whilst the roadworks had been tough, it was necessary and that people should be patient or find other ways to get around. He said: “We need a more positive attitude in Radstock. These water mains are essential – we should be letting workers get on with it, not distracting them by complaining all the time. The Town Councillors are all too quick to blame B&NES, perhaps they should be working together with them, not against them.
“Rather than complaining, perhaps Town Councillors should be doing something positive and working harder to say that the town is still open for business. They need to start listening more to what the people in the town want, rather than being opposed to everything.”
Jo Milling, Chair of the Radstock Town Team and owner of Thomsons Hardware in Fortescue Road, said: “The town has had a tough time while all the roadworks have taken place and the traders would like to thank our many loyal customers, who have stuck with us throughout. We are told that the roadworks will soon be finished for good and we look forward to welcoming people back to shop in a new-look Radstock.
“This is a huge opportunity for the town and we are working hard to build a strong and successful town centre.”