Why are we waiting?

Photo shows: Mike Rawlings, Louise Bray, Gail Coleshill, Rosemary Todd and residents in front of the Peasedown-bound bus stop.

Residents living in a small cul-de-sac in Dunkerton say they have been let down by Bath and North East Somerset Council after a broken promise five years ago.

The residents of Crossways Park do not have access to amenities or services in the village and rely on public transport to get them into Bath or Midsomer Norton.

Outside the cul-de-sac is a bus stop on the A367, bound for Peasedown St John. Unfortunately though, residents can rarely get to it because doing so means walking in the face of oncoming traffic at speeds of 50mph and more. Also there is a steep verge making it even more impossible if you are disabled.

Since 2005, residents have been asking B&NES Council to lay a small footpath leading to the bus stop – five years later though no action has been taken.

Frustrated resident Mike Rawlings says he and his neighbours were promised the footpath:

“The Council promised us five years ago a footpath, but despite years of waiting we have received nothing.

All we want is a small pathway that can get us safely out of our estate and to the bus stop.”

Prospective Lib Dem MP Gail Coleshill visited the affected residents recently to hear their concerns. She commented:

“It’s so frustrating that B&NES has promised to do something for these residents, but now they have been forgotten about because the Council doesn’t consider it a priority.

Why should these residents be treated any differently? They pay their Council Tax that is being wasted on transport projects elsewhere in the authority that no one wants.”

Local campaigner Louise Bray believes the Council has been wrong to have de-prioritised this scheme:

“It is a relatively small piece of work that would have a big impact on the lives of everybody living in this development.

Some of the residents are in poor health and two have died since this footpath was originally promised to them.

Once again this shows how the more vulnerable members of our rural communities are being sidelined. I am appealing to B&NES Council to take action on this before the financial year end.”

Gail Coleshill has written to the Traffic and Safety Department asking them to take action on this issue.