PEOPLE living near a building site are angry that they only found out by chance that a nearby road could be closed for up to a year.

Several residents in Thomas Street, Taunton, say the only notification they had that Railway Street would close to traffic from September 1 was a road sign.

Vehicles will be barred from the street for safety reasons as scaffolding goes up at the side of a five-storey block of flats being built on the site of the former Kingston’s nightclub, which was more recently Riley’s snooker club.

A woman, who asked not to be named, said: “Nobody’s told us anything and it’s happening in a couple of weeks.

“Railway Street is one of three roads into the whole Rowbarton area and closing it will cause chaos.”

“A lot of people will use St Andrew’s Road instead but the parking there and in Thomas Street means cars can’t pass each other going two ways - drivers will have to go up on the pavement near a primary school.”

Dennis Bates, of Thomas Street, said: “It’s going to be an inconvenience. It’s the flow of traffic.

“The road is too narrow for cars to pass each other so with vehicles coming both ways it will cause a few problems.”

Somerset County Gazette:

Dennis Bates.

Michelle Varcoe, a neighbour, added: “It’s a bit odd I didn’t know anything about it. You would think they’d have posted notes through the door. But I don’t think it will make too much difference.”

Somerset County Gazette:

Michelle Varcoe.

Work is progressing on the block of 40 flats on the site near the station, where the Riley’s premises, originally a cinema, was demolished after its closure in November 2012.

Mark Thomas, boss of Acorn Developments SW Ltd, said the homes will improve the area and boost the local economy.

He added: “We’re closing Railway Street to put scaffolding up to build the building.

“We’ve been advised for safety reasons to shut the road and have advertised that.

“It will remain open to pedestrians so parents will still be able to walk their children to the nearby primary school but will be shut to traffic.

“It may not be shut for the whole year. We will endeavour to open it up as soon as we can and hope to improve on that time by quite some considerable amount. We apologise to the neighbours for any inconvenience.”

A Somerset County Council spokesman said a diversion route will be indicated via Grove Terrace and Thomas Street.