WE need your signatures!

The Mercury is renewing its appeal to readers to support our Bridgwater Bypass campaign, calling for EDF to build a road from north Bridgwater to Cannington ahead of its proposed nuclear new build at Hinkley Point.

For months, we have been inundated with letters and e-mails from Mercury readers calling for a bypass to be built before the lengthy project begins.

Campaigners Save Cannington Action Group and Sedgemoor Traffic Action Group said a northern bypass would be needed to alleviate traffic and Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger represented petitioners in the House of Commons when he spoke in favour of a bypass.

He added: “They have their permission for preparatory work, now we need to talk about it seriously.

“They are going to create traffic, they are not disputing it.

“But if we need a bypass then we need to prove we need it.”

A spokesmen for Somerset County Council said the authority had consistently asked EDF to provide more detailed evidence of how Hinkley Point C would impact on transport and how this would be mitigated.

She added: “As the information wasn’t made available, an independent interim transport assessment was needed to fully explore what the solutions may be to keep traffic in Bridgwater moving.

“The initial findings confirm what the local community expected: EDF’s proposals will have such an impact on the Bridgwater area that if nothing is done congestion and delays will be considerable.”

But despite a strong call from people in Sedgemoor, David Eccles, the head of EDF’s Bridgwater office, said a bypass has been ruled out for several reasons, including the potential environmental impact and time it would take to build.

So now is the time to make yourself heard and add your name to our Bridgwater bypass campaign – sign the petition in this week's Mercury and send it back to us.