Local parents have been very concerned about letting their children cross Stourton Way at the north end of Oak Tree Park. Several collected a petition in the area to secure a proper, safe crossing. This petition was delivered to Somerset County Council in early January and we have now had a response. Feasibility and design work will start shortly but the build will not happen until the Brimsmore development is started. Neighbours will be consulted on positions, design and so-on, probably later in Spring.

The Petition Results:

Q1 You have to cross this local road[1] to get to the shops, the park and the primary school. Could a 9-year old[2] cross on their own here?

Just 4 of the 306 respondents thought it would be safe, that’s a massive 98.6% think it’s unsafe

Q2 Do you agree that unless the crossing is improved it’s “only a matter a time” before a serious accident happens?

Slightly fewer people had clear views on this. Of the 294 respondents, 285 (96.9%) expected an accident

Q3 Should the authorities prioritise a safe crossing   over improvements for car users?

This question was asked because it’s clear that money is tight, and producing a crossing might mean doing without other improvements for car users. A resounding 97.6% thought that a crossing should be delivered first.

“We, the under signed, consider that crossing Stourton Way is often dangerous. This is a key route to school, to work, to  the shops and into the park. We call on Somerset County Council to give priority to making this crossing safe for children, families and the elderly to use.”

A 472 signature petition will be presented to SCC’s Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Hall, in time for the next meeting of Somerset County Council in February. In the meanwhile he has issued the following statement:

“This scheme and many other new highway infrastructure elements form part of the Yeovil Western Corridor study, which includes the Brimsmore Key Site. The Council is aware of the need for the crossing and is working hard to secure funding for it’s delivery as part of a wider package of works including working to secure developer funding. The safety of children is of the highest priority for us and we would welcome the petition which will of course be taken in to account as we move forward with this project.”

… which is interesting because the crossing has been missing for years and the Section 106 Agreement to secure developer funding from the Brimsmore site was signed back in 2008! We will continue the pressure.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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[1] Stourton Way is a 30mph local road, not a “distributor” road like Western Avenue

[2] A survey by charity Kidscape showed that most parents were happy to let a 9-year-old cross local roads on their own, provided it was not dangerous.