Rural Areas Ignored by Lib Dems

nToday the Scrutiny Committee of Somerset County Council considered road funding applications to the Regional Assembly.n Schemes up to the year 2026 were examined.

All the schemes under consideration were exclusively in Taunton and Yeovil. No provision is being made for any road schemes in the rest of the county. The criteria are laid down by the unelected Regional Assembly but Somerset County Council is making no provision to adjust this imbalance.

CountyCouncillorHarvey Siggs, who is also Leader of Mendip District Council, said: As always, half of Somerset is ignored in the Liberal Democrat proposals for future transport schemes. The only mention of the Mendip area is to delete the Walton by-pass from consideration.

Local Councillor, Ron Forrest commented: I am disgusted that the long-awaited Walton by-pass which we were promised would be the next major road scheme has been binned.

Conservative Transport Spokesman and Watchet and Quantock County Councillor, Anthony Trollope-Bellew, said: West Somerset did not even get a mention. There is no chance for safety schemes like a roundabout at Washford Cross or any improvement in the macadamised medieval cart tracks that pass for A roads in West Somerset as long as the Liberal Democrats remain in control at County Hall. Rural people are getting fed up with being ignored.