Measures to reduce traffic speed in Creech St Michael and make the village safer for pedestrians will be put in place later this month.

Work on the scheme, which includes new signage and road markings to support enforcement of a 20mph speed limit is due to start on Monday 13 December. Somerset County Council  and Creech St Michael Parish Council have worked together to deliver the package after proposals were developed last summer.

As well as ensuring the village is safer for residents long-term, the traffic calming measures will also help to deter road users using the route through the village as a cut-through whilst work is ongoing at Toneway’s Creech Castle junction.

Cllr John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: “These measures are really important for the village and we’re really pleased to be working in partnership with the Parish Council to make this happen.

“We have seen some displacement of traffic while work is ongoing on the Toneway, with drivers looking for cut-through routes.

“This work will help to ensure the 20 mph limits are adhered to and hopefully discourage drivers from using the village as a through route.”

Work is expected to take about four days and from 8.30am to 4.30pm and will require the use of temporary traffic lights. There will be no need for road closures.

It involves West View, North End, Worthy Lane, St Michael Road, Lipe Lane, Ham Road and Mill Lane.

“Creech residents know that traffic through the village has grown massively in recent years and the PC is concerned about the safety of pedestrians,” said a spokesperson for Creech St Michael Parish Council.

“This was recognised in our Neighbourhood Plan which, as a top priority, identified the need for a Traffic Management Plan to deal with it.  The Parish Council is really pleased to be working with the County Council to take this plan forward and put in place the traffic calming proposed in the summer.  There will be some disruption while works take place but,  once in, the measures should make the parish safer for pedestrians and car users by reducing the speed of vehicles.”

More details are available on the Creech St Michael PC website – Creech St Michael – News.

Submitted by Communications