Author: Peter Major

We have just heard that there will be temporary traffic lights from Wednesday 28th February to Friday 1st March on Wembdon Rise, between Inwood Road and Wares Lane. This is to allow Wessex Water to carry out “Utility Repair and Maintenance Works”. A pedestrian walkway will be provided through the works.

For further information about the work, you can contact Wessex Water on 0345 600 4 600.

One of our parishioners has complained to the Parish Council that an advance warning sign placed next to the pedestrian crossing potentially obscures children waiting to cross. A Parish Councillor has phoned Wessex Water about this, and is expecting them to reposition the sign today.

The section of Sandford Hill between Skimmerton Lane and Sandford Farm Approach will be closed on Monday 12th February 2024. The closure will start at 09:30 and is expected to last until 15:30 at the latest, to allow Openreach to replace a telegraph pole.

Residents in the affected section should still be able to access their properties.

The official notice for the closure states that for for further information you should contact Sunbelt Rentals on 03700 500 792 quoting reference ttro540539N.

Two new junctions will be constructed on the A39: the more westerly will be a signal-controlled 4-way junction which will also provide access to a separate development on the south side of the A39; the more easterly will be a ‘T’ junction with the secondary access to the Cokerhurst Farm development.

The section of Sandford Hill between Skimmerton Lane and Sandford Farm Approach will be closed on Monday 12th February 2024. The closure will start at 09:30 and are expected to last until 15:30 at the latest, to allow Openreach to replace a telegraph pole.

Residents in the affected section should still be able to access their properties.

The official notice for the closure states that for for further information you should contact Sunbelt Rentals on 03700 500 792 quoting reference ttro540539N.

A number of lanes, around Perry Green in particular, have flooded in the recent severely wet weather. This has caused extreme difficulties for some residents, in getting in and out of their homes, and in some cases there has been flood water entering their properties.

Wembdon Parish Council has raised this issue on many occasions, both with local landowners to encourage better maintenance of drainage ditches, and with Somerset Highways. Unfortunately, progress is very slow. We will continue to raise this issue at every opportunity, and thank all the residents who have given us their feedback on this.

The November Parish Paper has arrived from the printers, and our volunteers (your Parish Councillors) are out and about delivering them to all households in our Parish. If you haven’t received yours yet, don’t worry – it’s on its way.

If you think you should have a copy, and haven’t received it by the end of November, please contact our clerk with your name, address and phone number, and he will sort it out for you.

As usual, there will be some spare copies available at Wembdon Village Hall, the Parish Centre, the Cottage Inn and Greenway Garage. Or you can read it online.

Somerset Council have announced that recycling and rubbish collection days will be changing for more than 120,000 homes in Somerset in February next year. The changes come as new collection routes are introduced by Somerset Council’s contractor, SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. The new routes will make rounds more efficient, more manageable for crews whilst reducing mileage and carbon emissions. The changes come at no cost to the council.

We have just been told that Waldrons Lane has been closed with immediate effect because it is a state of disrepair. The closure will last for a maximum of 21 days, unless renewed. Milestone Infrastructure will be carrying out structural maintenance and safety repair works, and will liaise with affected landowners regarding access arrangements.

The official notice for the closure states that for for further information you should contact Somerset Highways on 0300 123 2224 quoting reference ttro601367N.

Perry Green Lane and Waldrons Lane (from Sandford Hill turning to Perry Green) are flooded this morning and it looks like it will take sometime to subside.

Somerset Council say “Heavy rain and flooding present a danger to drivers – road users are urged NOT to attempt to drive across flooded roads as it’s impossible to estimate the depth of the water reliably.
“It’s vital to prepare for wet conditions. Motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution. If caught in floods, information and advice is available on the Somerset Road Safety’s Adverse weather conditions webpage.”