David Warburton, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Somerton and Frome, joined the Norton St Philip Traffic Action Group (TAG) and enthusiastic local residents at the Fleur de Lys pub in Norton St Philip this weekend to push forward plans for a new scheme for traffic management in the village.
In February David Warburton organised a petition of villagers in Norton St Philip with over 600 concerned residents signing to demand action to stop large HGVs and excessive speed destroying the village. David Warburton presented the petition to John Osman, Leader of Somerset County Council at County Hall with David Smallacombe, chair of Norton St Philip TAG and local District Councillor Linda Oliver.
Following this, a village-wide consultation event was held this weekend at the Fleur de Lys pub in Norton St Philip where new traffic management plans were displayed and discussed. Residents were also given questionnaires to offer their views on the proposed schemes.
Together with David Warburton, David Smallacombe, Councillor and Chair of TAG, and Bob Hewitt, from transport planners Stuart Michael Associates met residents to describe the plans which include proposed traffic flow improvements to the High Street, Bell Hill, Bath Road and Farleigh Road. The recommended changes will make the roads safer for pedestrian and harder for HGVs to negotiate, meaning that larger vehicles will be diverted away from the centre of the village.
David Warburton said, “A proposal for a bypass was explored many years ago, but this is simply not on the cards. Instead, we’ve had piecemeal efforts aimed at reducing the terrible problems faced by this stunning historic village. The safety of locals is now desperately at risk. It’s time to now put together a new set of plans – a new framework which will see the village return to its medieval peace and tranquillity.
“The proposals we looked at today offer a practical answer and one which we can achieve incrementally and therefore affordably. These are realistic solutions which I wholly support.
“In January, I met with the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, and discussed the problems faced by Norton St Philip. As a result Mr McLoughlin is looking at new options for preventing HGVs using rural villages and destroying local life. I will be announcing more on this shortly.”