THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ACT 2004
PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTION OF STOPPING, WAITING, LOADING
AND UNLOADING, AND ON-STREET PARKING
WEST SOMERSET ORDER 2012
                           (AMENDMENT NO. 7) ORDER 2021
Notice is hereby given that the Somerset County Council proposes to make the above Order under Sections 1, 2, 4, 32, 35, 45, 46, 49, 53, and Part IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act of 1984’) as amended; and the Traffic Management Act 2004, (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act of 2004’) as amended, and all other enabling powers.
The effect will result in changes to the parking and waiting restrictions in the following locations:
Minehead: Townsend Road, Bernard Crescent, Paganel Road, Kildare Gardens, Whitegate Road, New Edward Road
A copy of the draft Traffic Regulation Order and the associated plans may be examined at ‘B’ Block Reception, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY during normal office hours; or online at www.somerset.gov.uk/TRO.  If you are unable to access please contact 0300 123 2224.

Persons wishing to object to these proposals may do so by sending their representations in writing, quoting reference number KT24082021, to Area Traffic Engineer, West Somerset Area Highways Office, Mart Industrial Estate, Minehead, TA24 5BJ or email trafficmanagement@somerset.gov.uk stating the reasons for their objections, and received no later than 21 days from the publication date of this notice. Any objectors will be notified of the council’s decision in due course.  Under the provisions of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, any letters of representation that are received, may be open to inspection by members of the public.

Patrick Flaherty
Chief Executive
Somerset County Council, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY
Dated: 8th October 2021

Buses of Somerset (John Perrett Transporting Somerset Service)
A39 Road Closure at Carhampton
From Monday 11 October for three weeks the A39 is due to be closed during the off-peak between 0930 and 1530 each day.
 
On service 28 (Taunton to Minehead) buses will operate as normal until arrivals/departures in the area just before 0930.  From this time the route will then split in two with the service continuing to run as per the current timetable between Watchet and Taunton until approximately 1530 when the service will return to normal.
 
On the section of route from Minehead, SCC have agreed with Buses of Somerset that they will look to operate a half hourly service from 0930 to 1530 between Butlins and Dunster Steep. This is dependent upon a suitable location being found to turn the bus around at Dunster Steep.
 
This does mean that during the off-peak period there will be no through service between Taunton and Minehead.
 
On the Exmoor Coaster Service (Doniford to Lynmouth) the route will be cut back during the hours of the road closure to operate between Minehead Butlins and Lynmouth.
 
The plan is to operate these sections of route as close as possible to the normal timetable, which is possible on the Watchet to Taunton section, but a slightly revised timetable to cover Minehead to Dunster Steep may be required.
 
Hinkley Point Community Bus
As a result of the A39 road closure, the Community Bus Service will be restricted to operate between Watchet Railway Station and Bridgwater only.  Minehead, Blue Anchor and Carhampton will not be served.
 
Driver Shortages
The U.K. bus sector is currently suffering from a significant driver shortage.  This is principally caused by staff isolating due to COVID-19 at short notice, combined with delays in securing medical examinations required for new starters to secure their provisional licences, and then long-standing delays in receiving those provisional licences from the DVLA. 
 
In Somerset First Bus has found it necessary to curtail a very small proportion of journeys. They understand that while it may be a very small proportion of journeys, this is a very significant disruption for the customers affected. 
  
To keep up to date with the latest timetable changes and current service issues please visit the website here.