'Let's wiggle down the wavy lines!' - Campaign group conga down 'barmy' Clevedon seafront
The 'SOS' Save Our Seafront campaign have been protesting against changes to the road in Clevedon - despite assurances from the council
A local campaign group have - quite literally - done the 'conga' amid their efforts to protest against changes made to the road layout at Clevedon seafront.
It follows the installation of wavy lines on the road put there to try and segregate cars from parking spaces and cyclists.
Despite calls from the RAC that the changes are 'confusing', the local authority assure us that the scheme will undergo a 'further safety audit' and the current changes follow a consultation.
However, despite the safety assurance, that's not enough for one campaign group, which claims 'most' residents of Clevedon are against the changes of making the road one-way and installing a 400-yard cycle lane.
A petition - first launched 12 months ago - has now reached more than 6,000 signatures, something the campaign group claim say is 'evidence' of the widespread dismay at the changes.
Before the changes started to be made, North Somerset Council said over 1,000 comments were made as part of the public consultation, and the scheme was amended following local input and knowledge by residents and businesses.
Back in November, North Somerset Council said it was satisfied it had the right scheme encompassing a range of views and stakeholder comments.
However, that wasn't enough evidence for the campaign group - who claim they've seen enough.
In a statement, Save Our Seafront said: "The barmy curvy lines that have made North Somerset Council into a viral laughing stock of the nation.
"That's why we are asking all those who have opinions on the changes and cyclists to join the SOS save our Seafront protest to ‘Snake on Sunday’ where demonstrators will ‘walk the Line’ in a wavy wiggle conga to show how they are against the unsafe wiggly changes to the once lovely Victorian seafront which has been vandalised by NSC."
During the protest, campaigners were demanding the changes to be put back to return the seafront road to 'the safe space it once was'.
Ahead of Sunday's protest, Save Our Seafront spokesperson Cathy Hawkins said: "We are against the changes for many reasons but primary we are concerned about the safety issues of this scheme.
"For this reason we have written to the Rt Hon Mark Harper MP. Secretary of State for Transport as we are keen to know if there are any mechanisms available to bring the scheme to a halt and whether there are any precedents of which the department is aware, where similar schemes have been stopped or compulsorily altered because of safety concerns.
"We will protest the changes on Sunday in the hope that North Somerset will listen and talk to us about our safety concerns not least of which is the silly wriggly line making the seafront look like Blobby land. We urge all those against this scheme to come along an in-Fancy dress with homemade banners to make their feelings known."
Before the protest, A spokesperson for North Somerset Council said: "The short stretch of wavy line at the roadside is a design feature that creates an unconventional highway environment with the combined effect of both slowing traffic down and discouraging parking at the roadside.
"Safety is a priority and a road safety audit was completed when the scheme was designed. There will also be a further one undertaken when it’s completed."
They also said that the works were not fully complete - and will continue to be managed until the spring, when the final plans will be realised.
Read more here: 'Wavy lines' will be reviewed as RAC say they're confusing