Businesses in Stoke St. Michael losing “£500 a day” after roadworks drag on
A short section of the road has been closed since July 10 to allow for a culvert to be rebuilt following damage by heavy lorries.
Businesses in a small Somerset village are losing “£500 a day” after routine roadworks have dragged on for more than two weeks.
The Bridge runs along the southern edge of the village of Stoke St. Michael, which lies approximately halfway between Midsomer Norton and Shepton Mallet.
A short section of the road, between the junction with Church Street and the junction of Mendip Road, has been closed since July 10 to allow for a culvert to be rebuilt following damage by heavy lorries.
But the work has now dragged on for more than two weeks, with a local resident claiming “no work has taken place” and local businesses are struggling from the lack of footfall.
Somerset Council said the delay had been caused by the discovery of utilities embedded in the culvert’s structure – which had not shown up during an initial check of the site.
Fran Davies, who runs Unicorn Glass within the village, provided the Local Democracy Reporting Service with an image showing a lack of workman within the site, which remains closed off to motorists from all directions.
She said: “The main road through the centre of the village has been closed for more that two weeks. There is no work going on at all.
“The road was closed to rebuild a culvert and bridge, damaged over the years by heavy lorries.
“After closing the road, an inspection took place to reveal that the utility pipe works had to be moved before rebuilding the culvert.
“None of the utility companies have been to inspect, and no work has taken place.
“There are three men on site everyday, doing nothing, and a security guard all night. Why wasn’t a full inspection carried out before the road was closed?
“Our village shop and post office, which serves not just Stoke St. Michael but the surrounding villages, is loosing roughly £500 a day because the road is closed.”
Stoke St. Michael is set to grow significantly in the coming years, with plans for 47 homes on Coalpit Lane – north of the road closure – being approved by the Planning Inspectorate in February following a successful appeal.
Ms Davies continued: “Somerset Council’s highways department does not pay compensation and everyone is very worried that the shop cannot sustain such loss of income.
“It would be absolute disaster if the shop closed just because Bristol water, BT and the gas company are not doing their job.”
The official roadworks notice, advertised on the council’s official roadworks portal, indicates that the road closure may remain in place until September 22.
However, Ms Davies has claimed the roadworks could possibly last “until November” if a quick resolution cannot be found.
She added; “Surely the road could be opened again until work starts?
“The shallow small hole which could easily be covered and traffic allowed to pass with traffic lights.”
Somerset Council said that the complex utilities layout had not shown up during the planning phase of the roadworks – in an unfortunate echo of similar calamities which have befallen the Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme.
A spokesman said: “We understand people’s frustration and concerns about the impact of the closure on local businesses, and we are working hard to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
“Our proposal was to carry out the work on repairing the culvert swiftly, whilst keeping disruption to a minimum.
“Unfortunately the process has been significantly complicated by the discovery of three key utilities having pipes and wiring encased in concrete and embedded in the structure of the culvert.
“This was not apparent in the initial checks we requested, or visible in the plans – it only became apparent when we began excavating the site.
“We are liaising with the utilities to ensure this is resolved quickly with their guidance. If this is not possible within an acceptable time-scale, we will reassess the works schedule.”