Cheddar Valley MP James Heappey met with Bristol Water Chief Executive Luis Garcia in Parliament recently to discuss the road closures that will be required for the company to complete its new water pipeline from Cheddar Reservoir to Bristol. In the meeting he highlighted local concerns over the disruption that the closures might cause especially during the tourist season and with the expected increase in traffic bound for Hinkley Point.
Mr Heappey was keen to see the work sequenced to minimise any disruption and was particularly keen that Cross Lane between Axbridge and the A38 at Cross must not be closed at the same time as the part closure of the A38. Following the meeting, Bristol Water have confirmed that the work will not be conducted during the summer, that they will engage with Sedgemoor DC and EDF over the Hinkley Traffic Management Plan and that Cross Lane and the A38 will not be worked on at the same time.
“I am delighted that Bristol Water have taken these concerns on board” said James Heappey. “The work is necessary and the road closures are therefore inevitable but I am reassured that Bristol Water will do all they can to minimise the disruption.”
“I am particularly pleased that they have agreed not to close Cross Lane whilst also working on the A38. To have done so, would have caused significant disruption for traffic at the western end of the Cheddar Valley. The A37/A38 intersection is hugely important to our local road network and those junctions are already very busy and very dangerous. I’m grateful to Luis Garcia for responding so positively.
