Controversial 'wiggly lines' will be removed from February
Almost half a million pounds is being spent to reverse the changes from 2022
The much-derided “wiggly lines” scheme along the Clevedon seafront will be gone by summer 2025, with work to remove it set to start in February.
North Somerset Council is spending almost half a million pounds to reverse the changes it made to The Beach in Clevedon in 2022. The scheme saw parking spaces facing out to sea removed, a “yellow brick road” on parts of the street, and the “wiggly lines” painted on the road — which the RAC described as one of the “most bizarre” road schemes it had seen.
After outcry in the town and an independent review of the scheme, the council committed to spend £425k reversing most of the changes. Now locals are being invited to a drop in event to find out more about the changes.
The event will be held at Clevedon Community Centre in Princes Road between 11am and 8pm on Monday September 9 and will give people the opportunity to view new plans and talk to North Somerset Council officers about the scheme.
Hannah Young, North Somerset Council’s executive member with responsibility for highways and local councillor for Clevedon South, said: “These changes support the findings of the independent review which was commissioned following concerns from residents and businesses in the town.
“We have listened to the community and the consultants and we plan to reinstate the sea facing parking, remove the two-way cycle path and adjust the roundabout to a traditional layout which is enabled by the repositioning of the cycle lane. I’ve already had good feedback that the new plans will address the problems that residents and visitors have experienced in this area and I hope the changes will make the area easier to navigate for motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and disabled users.”
The changes will also see the wiggly lines removed, new loading bays and a coach drop off point installed, and new vehicular access to the Promenade for boats and ice cream vans. Pedestrian crossings will be improved and planters repositioned.
The road will remain a one-way system but with improved road markings and signage. Instead of a two-way cycle lane, a single contraflow cycle lane will run alongside the road.
The proposals were drawn up after a review by consultants AECOM and further consultation with stakeholders and businesses on The Beach and Clevedon’s councillors.
But Ms Young added: “Funding these changes is a huge challenge in our current financial climate but we are committed to completing the work as soon as possible with the least possible impact on the businesses and residents in the area. The council tries hard to respond to community concerns and balances the different priorities it faces across towns and parishes. Clevedon seafront has been a key priority for the Clevedon community. The changes are a priority because they focus on safety or addressing disability access issues.”
In order to meet the £425k price tag of the changes, the council executive voted in March to redirect £50k which had been intended for repairing the slipway — a project the council said was not at the implementation stage — and another unallocated £21k from the Great Lakes project. Other funding is coming from section 106 money from developers and local transport plan funding. The council is also taking £153k out of its capital and revenue reserves.