EDF says it will investigate the possibility of whether the work on two Bridgwater junctions can be done any quicker following a meeting with Wylds Road traders.

The Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce brought together the traders along with a representative from EDF, two from Skanska and a representative from Forest Traffic to answer questions and try and come up with positive steps to lessen the impact of the roadworks.

Malcolm Calladine from Bedrock Furniture said EDF and the traffic planners should look at whether a right filter lane could be introduced at the Bristol Road junction, and although many of the traders supported this, Forest Traffic area manager Phil Fricker insisted it would be detrimental.

However following a number of traders saying they were in favour of the right filter lane, EDF's head of stakeholder engagement David Eccles agreed for the company's team to look at the proposal with the contractors again and see if it might be possible to trial it.

Joe Mogg from Munchkins was one of the more outspoken traders, criticising the traffic planners and contractors as well as EDF.

"You're still getting paid each week aren't you? Well, we aren't," Mr Mogg said to the representatives.

"EDF is not interested in the people here tonight. It is a shambles and everyone here is having to pay for your big business," he said.

Phil Jessopp from Ryders questioned the number of workers on site, and how efficiently they were working, but Skanska's Steve Rogers explained that there had been unexpected delay.

Mr Rogers said that when the engineers started digging, they discovered an electrical cable which powered 13 homes and a business which would need to be diverted, and until that was sorted there was a limited amount of progress that could be made on the junction.

Cllr Leigh Redman said the traders should gather as much evidence that they had been directly affected by the roadworks in order to try and claim compensation from EDF, but Mr Eccles said this would set a dangerous precedent.

"If you agreed to compensate businesses affected negatively by roadworks it would happen up and down the country every week. I am sorry the system is the way it is but that is the case," Mr Eccles said.

"But we are actively talking with our partners to examine if there is some way we can compress the work," Mr Eccles said.

He also brought up an interesting issue surronding works due to happen on the Bristol Road junction once the current two junctions are complete.

Due to work required to move a major BT chamber, expanding the junction at Bristol Road by the Volkswagon Garage junction is estimated to take 20 months.

However Mr Eccles said if all local authorities agreed that the works were unnecessary and it could be signed off by both the planning inspectorate and the secretary of state, the works may not need to go ahead.

Cllr Mick Lerry, who is also a member of the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce said: "It is also important for the Bridgwater Chanmber of Commerce to work with local businesses affected to make sure that they try to secure business in the supply chain for the Hinkley C and take advantage of reduce costs in advertising”.