Calls for new M5 roundabout to cope with depot traffic (From This is The West Country)

Calls for new M5 roundabout to cope with depot traffic

1:30pm Sunday 27th December 2009

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A NEW roundabout on the M5 could prevent traffic chaos when a major supermarket distribution centre is built on the outskirts of Bridgwater, it was claimed this week.

Peter Hollings, of Downend, fears Bristol Road will come to a standstill at peak times with, he claims, up to 70 lorries leaving and entering the proposed new Morrisons warehouse at Dunball every hour.

The supermarket giant unveiled plans last year for a new regional distribution centre, which it says could create up to 1,000 jobs.

However, Mr Hollings said: “This increase in traffic will without doubt turn the Bristol Road into a temporary car park from about 7.30am until 10am, and again from 4.30pm to 6pm.”

He is also anticipating chaos on the M5 at junction 23 and is concerned the situation will worsen with future developments elsewhere in the town.

But he insists a new roundabout on the M5 could be the solution.

He added: “Yes it would cost more than the proposed roundabout at Express Park, but what will be the cost to the people of Bridgwater?

“On the one hand, 1,000 jobs, on the other, a daily nightmare getting in and out of town.”

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council: “A traffic impact assessment is a requirement with applications of this type and all these factors will be looked at in depth before permission is granted.”

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