Author: Peter Major

A School Street is a road (or a number of roads) outside a school, with a temporary restriction on motorised vehicles at the start and the end of the school day.

The School Streets scheme for Wembdon St George’s School started on 13th January, and will continue for at least 6 months. Further details of the scheme can be found on Somerset Council’s website. Somerset Council are encouraging feedback and comments from the public, which will be taken into account when they decide whether to make the School Street permanent. You can complete the online survey before 13th July 2025, or send them a letter by post or email.

They say that if you wish to send a letter or email, please be sure to:

1. Include reasons for any comments you make regarding any decision to make an
   Order for the indefinite continuation of this scheme. Comments in support of the
   scheme are also invited.
2. Send all comments in writing to Somerset Council, Traffic Management, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY or by email to TROinbox@somerset.gov.uk.
3. Quote reference ET10122024;
4. Send your letter by the 13th July 2025.

Work started in earnest on the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier in 2024. The year’s progress was summarised in a Newsletter recently published by the team.

From Friday 10th to Tuesday 14th January, Wessex Water will have termporary traffic lights on Wembdon Rise, near number 74. They will be repairing a leak in a domestic supply pipe, and reinstating the carriageway and/or pavement afterwards.

Most households in Wembdon should by now have received their copy of the latest Parish Paper, delivered by our volunteer Parish Councillors. If you haven’t already received yours yet, it should be dropping through your letterbox in the next few days.

If you think you should have a copy, and haven’t received it by 5th December, 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.

Wales and West Utilities will be carrying out unspecified work in four roads on the Inwood Estate over the period 2nd September to 13th December. They will be using temporary traffic lights. The published information is as follows:

• Risedale Close: 2nd September – 27th September
• Inwood Road: 9th September – 13th December
• Silverdale Close: 30th September – 1st November
• Brantwood Road: 28th October – 29th November

Wales and West Utilities state “We’re ready to take your call if you have any questions about our work. Call freephone 0800 912 2999, or contact us on Twitter @WWUtilities or Facebook.com/wwutilities.”

From Thursday 29th August to Monday 2nd September, Wessex Water will have termporary traffic lights on Wembdon Hill, to the west of the access to Cokerhurst Farm. They will be carrying out repair work.

A39 Quantock Road will be closed from a point east of Skimmerton Lane to Sandford Roundabout from 19:00 to 23:30. The closure will be during the period 27th to 28th August “for one day within the stated period and as signed on-site”. The closure is for “Surface Dressing Works on behalf of Somerset Council”. The extent of the closure can be seen in the first map on the left. The closed section is shown in red; you can click on the map to expand it.
For any further information about this closure please contact Somerset Highways on 0300 123 2224 quoting reference: SM11/0524 – SD007744.

On the same evenings a similar closure will take place further west on the A39. New Road and Main Road will be closed between a point to the east of Blackmore Lane and the Cannington roundabout – see the second map. The reference for this closure is SM13/0524 – SD007746.

It is not clear from the published information whether the two sections of the A39 will be closed on the same evening, or whether the closures will be split over the two evenings. If they are on the same evening, there will be no direct access from Wembdon to Cannington and beyond, and access to Perry Green will be through Wembdon.

A signed diversion route will be in place, taking westbound traffic via the A38, Priorswood, and the A358, and eastbound in the reverse direction. The A39 traffic will not be diverted through Wembdon.