Transport News

Bus

The additional Thursday 10C service is back starting from 28th March running exactly as it was in the trial last year. Due to a reduced cost offer from Hatch Green Coaches, the Parish Council is able to fund this for a further year (and beyond), IF it attracts the same support from passengers. Please do use it! See poster at the end of this post for the timetable

Somerset is also looking to open up the Taunton Slinky service on Tuesdays and Fridays to the public (currently it is only open to those without their own transport) – and has selected Hatch Beauchamp to trial this before extending to all Slinky routes. Look out for further information on how to sign-up and use this service.

Road

A recent article in the County Gazette seems to confirm other rumours that the current proposals for A358 dualling are effectively dead.

Frustratingly, National Highways and politicians are refusing to confirm or deny this, and there seems no prospect of any definitive statement until after the election. Even if a decision was made to go ahead, ecological surveys would need to be refreshed, and there would be further consultation, taking 18 months or more to complete

The HBPC A358 committee and the local community have achieved a great deal in bringing this issue to the attention of local councillors, local MPs and prospective candidates, Somerset Council, the Somerset Gazette and local radio and indeed DfT and HM Treasury. We have had both main parliamentary candidates endorsing our approach and I suspect our arguments about the excessive scale and cost DID get traction with senior ministers and influenced the 'decision' to bring this project to a halt.

Our campaign must now be to get investment into a Henlade bypass, improvements to Southfields roundabout and safety tweaks to the rest of the road without disproportionate environmental impact.