I am disappointed that Somerset Council has once again chosen to kick the can down the road rather than make a decision.
Residents and businesses have already spent months dealing with the disruption and inconvenience caused by these changes, and they are now being told they must wait even longer for an answer. By the time this comes back to the Executive in October, it will have been almost a year since the one-way system was introduced.
That said, I do welcome the decision to carry out a proper consultation with residents and businesses. Their views should have been sought as part of the review process and it is right that they are finally being given the opportunity to have their say.
The council's own review found that restoring two-way traffic would deliver the best outcome for motorists. I am confident that the consultation will show strong support for restoring two-way traffic on Salmon Parade and East Quay, exactly as the nearly 6,000 people who signed the petition have been calling for.
If it takes almost a year to make a decision about two roads in Bridgwater, it is perhaps no surprise that Somerset Council finds itself in such a financial mess. This is the same Liberal Democrat-run council that recently received a one-star financial management rating from CIPFA, which highlighted concerns about the pace of decision-making.
