MP urges council to ‘kill off’ seafront road scheme
NORTH Somerset MP Liam Fox has issued a stark message to council chiefs – urging them to ‘kill’ a controversial scheme to change Clevedon seafront.
Dr Fox’s stinging message to North Somerset Council demands it should scrap its ‘unwanted’ road scheme for the town’s Victorian seafront, and that it should also ‘apologise to the people of Clevedon.’
His outburst comes after hundreds of people attended a public meeting on Saturday to highlight their concerns at the changes along The Beach.
Work started last month on the controversial scheme which will see a 400-metre segregated cycle lane installed.
A new 20mph limit will be introduced and the parking reconfigured, resulting in a large number of spaces being lost.
Its aim is to remove cyclists from the prom while providing pedestrian priority crossing points over the cycle route. It will also feature 25 cycle stands and new crossing points, plus new landscaping and seating.
Additional parking will be provided along Elton Road along with extra bus stops.
The project is due to be completed early next year and will provide a new route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and forms part of the ‘Pier to Pier’ link between Westonsuper-Mare and Clevedon.
The scheme has prompted a wave of objections from seafront businesses and residents, with a petition against the changes collecting more than 5,500 signatures.
Businesses along the seafront say the changes will decimate trade and claim the council has not listened to their concerns.
The work to the seafront follows on from a similar scheme in Hill Road which has seen a one-way system introduced, along with a new contraflow cycle lane and ‘parklets’ providing seating areas.
In his message, Dr Fox said: “It is appalling that North Somerset are blaming everyone but themselves for the shambles they have created.
“This scheme was unwanted and opposed widely by local residents. It created problems for local businesses and made life more difficult for the elderly and disadvantaged.
“For once they should accept responsibility for their own incompetence, kill the scheme and apologise to the people of Clevedon.”
Around 300 people joined the protest on Clevedon seafront on Saturday as part of the ‘Save our Seafront’ campaign.
A spokesman for Save Our Seafront said: “Residents who attended this protest all raised hands and shouted that they agreed they were against the changes and voiced concerns about the reduction of parking for the elderly and disabled, young families and sea swimmers.
“Many residents have been adversely affected by the bus route change and the danger of cyclists having two-way cycling on roads that are only going to be one-way for cars.
“The SOS team has repeatedly asked North Somerset councillors to meet to discuss the ramifications of the scheme.
“The team have designed an alternative and wanted to have the opportunity to enter a dialogue and propose what they feel is a much better alternative.
“This alternative would extend the cycle lane to the end of the seafront whilst not impacting on the existing Victorian esplanade, but no-one from North Somerset Council has responded.”
A North Somerset Council spokesman said it had consulted widely on the scheme. “North Somerset Council has consulted extensively on a scheme to make parts of Clevedon more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists,” he said.
“Over 1,000 comments were made as part of the public consultation, which finished in April 2021, and the scheme was amended following excellent local input and knowledge by residents and businesses.
“North Somerset Council is now satisfied it has the right scheme encompassing a range of views and stakeholder comments.
“Local councillors, Clevedon Town Council, Clevedon Business Improvement District (BID), the Pier Trust and other interested parties have also been fully engaged in the development of the scheme.”
He added: “The improvements complement the Pier to Pier Way which will be completed next year, providing an attractive new route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders between Weston and Clevedon.
“The improvements to Hill Road are mainly completed, and work on The Beach is set to be finished in December.
“The council has been working with the local seafront businesses to minimise disruption during peak holiday periods.”
‘It is appalling that North Somerset are blaming everyone but themselves for the shambles they have created’
DR LIAM FOX, MP