Councillor Gwyneth Leighton

Ruishton & Creech News from Ward Cllr Gwyneth Leighton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservative Cllr Gwyneth Leighton calls for ‘meaningful consultation’ on Cambria Farm Park & Ride

 

HAVE YOUR SAY—  Send me your views click here

 

Cllr Gwyneth Leighton is supporting local residents and Ruishton Parish Council in trying to persuade the Liberal Democrat run County Council to consult properly with them over the Park & Ride proposed for Cambria Farm. 

 

Gwyneth said, “Liberal Democrats at Somerset County Council seem to think it is acceptable for them to ride roughshod over people in Henlade.  They attended a meeting of Ruishton Parish Council in December last year and literally told everyone—it is going here!  No debate over the location of the site whatsoever. This is an utter disgrace and is far from democratic.  We all support the need for a park & ride east of Taunton but would like to have meaningful consultation from SCC—watch out they are likely to put in a planning application soon—then it could be too late as they will decide on it themselves”

 

Local people are rightly concerned that the access to the park & ride will be off the existing A358 near Ruishton Lane, where SCC proposes to put in new traffic lights.  I believe this will make the backlog of traffic much worse. It is already at a standstill here in peak times and the air quality for people living along the main road will be made worse than it is now—it is already one of the worst in Taunton.  There will be no relief for Henlade as the proposed dualling of the A358 is going to take at least 7 years before it starts.

 

Furthermore, SCC refused to consult with other parishes such as Stoke St Mary and refused the offer from Taunton Deane Borough Council to attend workshops for the parishes affected.

 

ACTION—WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP?

¨ Write again to the new Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset County Council, Cllr Jill Shortland,

¨ Write again to Liberal Democrat, Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey who is responsible for Highways at Somerset County Council

 

Somerset County Council

County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4HE