Relief over early end to roadworks

The good news is two months of traffic lights in a busy villageroad will end early.

And the slightly better news for traders is another road closurehas been postponed. Wales and West Utilities said temporary trafficlights on Church Street in Cheddar will be removed tomorrow evening.

However, the A371 through the village was supposed to be closedfor resurfacing during the nighttime by Somerset County Council fora week from November 19. But the council has now said the work ispostponed. No new date has been set.

The temporary traffic lights have caused queues of traffic inboth directions since September 6.

But a knock-on effect has been felt by the nearby Sue Ryder Careshop on Union Street.

Manager Andrea Cox has noticed a drop in out-of-villagedonations.

She said: "We pride ourselves on ladies clothing and accessories,but also continue to need bric-a-brac and men's clothing.

"The works have really put off donations from Draycott and otherareas because the traffic lights are delaying motorists."

She is now appealing for readers and others to spread the wordthat donations, which can include cash, are gratefully received.Keith Hollick, manager of Budgens in Cheddar, agrees the donationdrop can be blamed on the lights.

He said: "Everybody has been effected by these lights.

"In the post office they said they were much quieter than usual.It has hit Cheddar hard and they won't be missed."

The road works involved replacing 200m of old metal gas pipeswith new plastic ones. The non-corroding pipes should last more than80 years and is part of a 30-year multi-million pound programme inWales and the South West.

A statement from Wales and West Utilities said the work was to befinished and the road fully re-opened on Friday evening - a weekearlier than the original November 12 completion date. Confusingly,warning signs at the traffic point state work should be finishedOctober 31 - last Saturday.

The length of the A371 in Cheddar was slated for resurfacing bySomerset County Council's highways department from November 19 to26.

The closure would have been enforced from Witheridge Farm byCheddar Bridge to Hanam Manor on Station Road, by the Kings ofWessex School, during the evenings.

Sue Ryder Care is selling tickets for the charity's nationalraffle. First prize is Pounds 5,000, second is a cruise for two andthird is Pounds 500. Closing date is December 1.