Status unknown
No Entry signs being ignored
Reported anonymously at 12:46, Tue 17 May 2016
Sent to Somerset Council and West Somerset District Council 4 minutes later. FixMyStreet ref: 825875.
The junction of Summerland Road and Summerland Place is extremely unclear. Although Summerland Road continues straight, past Summerland Avenue up to Irnham Road, the traffic bias is in favour of Summerland Place traffic from a car park. This makes definitive road markings and signs confusing. A minimum of two vehicles a day will pass northwards along Summerland Road and against traffic flow. Many drivers will use parked vehicles to aid them in determining traffic flow but with double yellow lines preventing parking, this is not the case. Since, the double yellow lines were introduced when Iceland needed unhampered access to their delivery bay for their large articulated lorry deliveries this has been a regular occurance. It would have made better sense to reverse the one way traffic. This would make 'No Entry' very clear at the junction of The Parade/The Avenue and Blenheim Road. Then Summerland Road would not have any otherwise confusing signage and road markings. Traffic running against the traffic flow is extremely dangerous as there is a lot of pedestrian traffic accessing the council offices, a pet supplies shop and restaurant. The images above show an Iceland lorry coming to the junction in question and either ignoring or missing signage. The following image is of the Iceland lorry passing the council offices (unchallenged) against traffic flow and mandatory No Entry signs. Please note that an elderly gentleman had just got to the kerb and did not expect the lorry to be going in the wrong direction. Please also note that the young man is arguing with a resident the need for Iceland's lorry driver to do what he has done. Residents have come second to council's road scheme decisions, the bullying tactics of Iceland and the placement of double yellow lines. It is dangerous, prevents residents to be able to park outside their houses and achieves no easier access. Reversing the traffic flow would help Iceland to access their loading bay. Residents could have residents parking on their side of the road and there would be clear 'unequivocal' No Entry signs at the junction that would be seen. This issue has been present for over three years and since double yellow lines have been present on the residents side of the road.
Updates
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The council has referred me to our local councilor. He has been written to 6 days ago and has not acknowledged my contact. This potentially dangerous situation is being ignored. The councilor is: Terry Venner who is Minehead north representative tvenner@westsomerset.gov.uk
Posted anonymously at 21:32, Sun 12 June 2016
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Still open, via questionnaire, 23:10, Tue 14 June 2016
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My initial contact via 'Fix My Street was received on the 17th May by the Traffic and Transport Development Department. I was referred to a councilor on the 6th June and I contacted him immediately. Six days later I contacted the councilor again as I had no acknowledgement of my first email to him. A day after my second email I received acknowledgement and that he is preparing to meet with the Traffic Department. I follow up with further photographs of vehicles traveling against the one way system. To ad further weight to the argument to act urgently to reverse the traffic flow before there is a fatal accident I photographed another vehicle owner breaking the law and a clear threat to pedestrian lives. It is apparently not an urgent matter as by this Friday it will be a full month since bringing this matter to their attention. In the interests of safety I would have thought that road closure should prevail until the situation is evaluated and concluded satisfactorily.
Posted anonymously at 23:10, Tue 14 June 2016
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Still open, via questionnaire, 01:31, Wed 13 July 2016
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I have heard nothing from the councilor I was instructed to contact over this matter. I have had no contact from the department that deals with roads or the council that has jurisdiction over such matters. Nothing has been done as to monitor traffic travelling in the wrong direction. Recently a local post office van entered the wrong way. He claimed it was just a one off. There seems to be a lot of one offs. I hope that it doesn't take a one off injury or death of someone to make the authorities treat this with some urgency. Since my complaint is in the public domain I would ensure that the injured or family of the deceased is fully aware that this matter had been brought to the authorities attention in plenty of time to prevent it should a civil lawsuit be sought. Two months and no action.
Posted anonymously at 01:31, Wed 13 July 2016
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Still open, via questionnaire, 10:01, Wed 10 August 2016
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Totally Ignored. There has been no contact since going through suggested route. I have not been informed of any monitoring taking place or of a plan to prevent cars from entering the wrong way. It would seem that the road safety of the residents and pedestrians in Minehead are secondary to other considerations. If injury occurs because of the council dragging its heals over this matter I could see a civil law suit for council carelessness running into millions. The problem has been brought to the council's attention and have been negligent in their follow up.
Posted anonymously at 10:01, Wed 10 August 2016
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Still open, via questionnaire, 11:52, Wed 7 September 2016
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Feedback is non existent from the council. Since my last contact via FixMyStreet to Councillor Terry Venner, I had a formal reply stating that he was due to meet the department responsible but have heard nothing else since then. At least, I would have thought the council would be monitoring the number of vehicles that pass the wrong way to establish the facts for themselves. But there is no evidence of this. I don't suppose they are obliged to acknowledge my bringing this to their attention but in the interests of public safety, I would have expected some restrictions to access in the interim.
Posted anonymously at 11:52, Wed 7 September 2016
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Still open, via questionnaire, 13:08, Wed 5 October 2016
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Five months after reporting a clear danger to the public with car drivers ignoring no entry signs, the council have done nothing to prevent someone being run down while crossing what pedestrians unwittingly trust to be a one way street. This is nothing short of gross irresponsibility on behalf of those charged to ensure safety.
Posted anonymously at 13:08, Wed 5 October 2016
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