Plans to close part of the A36 until spring 2025 have been criticised by local transport groups, who have raised concerns about the increased volume of traffic in the surrounding areas. Local bus services from Frome to Bath will also be affected.
Highways England confirmed the plans to close the A36 at Limpley Stoke from 12th August until spring 2025 to carry out repairs to stabilise a landslip and reconstruct the road. During this time, all traffic will be diverted via the A350 and the A4.
“Congestion, even gridlock, has to be the very real concern as A36 traffic opts to go on roads not designed to cope with such large traffic volumes,” said Peter Travis, a Rode Parish councillor and co-chair of Somerset Bus Partnership.
Last week, Somerset Bus Partnership and Frome and Villages Bus User Group (FAVBUG), held urgent meeting with representatives of Frome Town Council and all the parish councils along the A36 and the B3110 (Norton St Philip and Hinton Charterhouse).
The meeting was also attended by Somerset Council, Bath and North East Somerset (BNES) councillors and the newly elected Liberal Democrat MP for Frome and East Somerset, Anna Sabine.
“The concern is that car and van drivers will not want to go on a 20-mile diversion and will use their local knowledge to try and find shorter routes to get to Bath,” says Peter. “This is likely to be through the villages and that’s what could create major traffic congestion, possibly even gridlock.”
Peter said the group will be raising these concerns with National Highways and asking why only one month’s notice was given for such a major road closure.
“A further meeting has been scheduled, which Highways England will attend, to try and address the concerns over the expected major delays and likely congested roads once the A36 is closed on 12th August and when vehicles switch to alternative routes in order to get to Bath,” explained Peter, who also said the closure of the A36 will also have a major impact on bus services between Frome and Bath.
“From Monday 12th August, once the A36 is closed, the First Bus D2x Frome/Bath service will be diverted and go via Radstock,” says Peter.
“After Frome Market Place, the D2x will go along Welshmill Road, Watcombe Road and the A362 to Radstock, then via the A367, Orchard Way in Peasedown St John, finally going down the Wellsway into Bath.
“Because of the A36 closure, from 12th August, the D2x will no longer be able to serve Frome’s Stonebridge estate, Frome College, Frome Hospital or the village of Beckington. The First Bus D2 will continue to go via Stonebridge, Frome College, Frome Hospital, Beckington, Rode, Norton St Philip and Hinton Charterhouse.
“Once the A36 is closed in August, going by the D2x bus via Radstock could prove to be the fastest, easiest and certainly the cheapest option for getting to Bath from Frome, or take the D2 and leave it to the bus driver to find a way through what could be heavily congested village streets.
“The D2x / D2 bus to Bath only costs £2 for an adult and £1 for 5- to 15-year-olds for a single fare.”
FAVBUG will hold a bus stall in Frome Marketplace on Saturday 10th August, with printed D2 and D2x timetables to answer queries and try to address any concerns.
