Bridgwater Approves Over 500 Homes Without Relief Road Plan
Bridgwater’s new housing development gets the green light, but lacks a relief road, raising concerns about traffic congestion.
Bridgwater, Somerset, Housing Development, Traffic Congestion, Relief Road
Bridgwater: So, it looks like over 500 new homes are on the way for Bridgwater, but there’s a catch—no relief road to help with the traffic. The Sedgemoor District Council gave the thumbs up to plans for 530 homes at Folletts Farm, but folks are worried about the congestion this could cause.
After a long back-and-forth with Somerset Council, the developers finally got the green light. They’ve agreed to chip in for some local services, but the big issue is that there’s no relief road planned to ease the traffic flow into town.
The new homes will be built near the A372, and while there will be some improvements to that road, it’s not enough to handle the extra cars. The developers are planning a roundabout and a spine road, but it won’t connect to the main routes that could help ease the load.
One of the big concerns is that only 10% of these new homes will be affordable, which is way below the usual 30% standard. To make up for that, the developers are putting in over £3 million for a new primary school, but that’s still a lot of pressure on local services.
Residents are pretty vocal about their worries. Many are saying that without a proper road linking to Squibbers Way, the traffic situation is just going to get worse. They’re worried about how they’ll get to the M5 without getting stuck in traffic.
Local cycling groups are also pushing for better bike paths, but they’re facing challenges due to the narrow roads. The council has set some conditions for the developers to improve pedestrian and cycling access, which is a step in the right direction.
As for the relief road, it’s been a topic of discussion for years, but with the council’s budget issues, it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon. Residents are left wondering how this will all play out and what it means for their daily commutes.
So, while the new homes might bring some benefits, the lack of a relief road has many people feeling uneasy about the future of traffic in Bridgwater.