More about Hazel Prior-Sankey, County Councillor for Taunton South

COLLEY LANE, BRIDGWATER - SAFETY OF CYCLISTS

Hazel wrote the following letter to the Bridgwater Mercury on 3rd November, 2008:

I refer to your article about Colley Lane Southern Access Road Scheme (21st October) and fears expressed over the safety of cyclists.

Somerset County Council has noted concerns raised by consultees about the proposed cycling provision related to the Colley Lane Southern Access Road Scheme. Within the boundaries of the Colley Lane Access Road Scheme we have provided significant provision for cyclists. The scheme will improve provision for cyclists travelling to Colley Lane by taking them off the carriageway and segregating them from heavy goods vehicles travelling to the site from the south.

The Colley Lane scheme will also provide new ramped access to parts of the National Cycle Network running alongside the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal and the River Parrett, which will increase opportunities for Colley Lane based employees to access the site via primarily off-road routes.

Our scheme proposal does not extend to altering facilities from the junction of Parrett Way and Yeo Road into the Industrial Estate. We are aware of the high numbers of staff already travelling to Colley Lane by bike and this is something that we are keen to encourage as part of our wider strategic aims to encourage sustainable travel. We are already undertaking a review of the needs of cyclists across Bridgwater and, as part of this, we will investigate what improvements we might be able to deliver within the Colley Lane Industrial Estate area.

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Find out why Councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey has been featured on the BBC TV local news and interviewed on Radio 4 and 5 recently, by looking at 'Bitesize Good News'.

Hazel is fighting to establish the truth about the M5 motorway 'loop' which will destroy the Blackbrook football pitches and which she thinks people were not consulted about. Here is her press release on this:

Former Tory Run Taunton Deane Borough Council gave Go Ahead for Loss of Blackbrook Playing Field

Local councillor Hazel Prior-Sankey has revealed that the reason only 13 local homes were consulted over the Blackbrook loop proposals was because it appears that officers from Taunton Deane Council had given the green light for the relocation of the Blackbrook football pitches elsewhere in the borough.

In a written response to the County Council, the Highways Agency stated; 'We also met with planning and leisure officers from Taunton Deane Borough Council who advised us that the strategic policy need for the pitches could be met elsewhere in the borough. The viability of the sports centre was not raised as an issue, although they did express concern at the loss of an informal recreation area.'

Based on this information, the government's Highways Agency bosses decided that the impact of the proposed loop on the Blackbrook residential estate would be limited to visual effects from a few properties backing onto Blackbrook Way. They have now accepted that such a limited consultation just wasn't good enough and they promise to review their procedures.

The proposed improvements to the A303 and A358 between South Petherton and Taunton include a free -flow connection with the M5 in the form of a loop to be built on the Blackbrook playing fields. Hazel Prior-Sankey commented:

"There have been around 1,000 responses to the Highway's Agency's consultation. They have now gone away to consider the alternatives for the Blackbrook area. I will be pressing them to consult properly on any changes which come out of this process."

"However", Hazel added, "I am very disappointed that Taunton Deane's officers took it upon themselves to relinquish the football pitches at Blackbrook so readily. This makes Taunton Deane's objections to the loss of the pitches at their strategic planning meeting, somewhat pointless. Perhaps it was just a Tory electioneering ploy?"

ENDS.