Steve Band, a resident of Peasedown St John since around 2000, describes the junction at Bath Road as “a nightmare” he often tries to avoid. Peasedown St John, a peaceful village south of Bath, lies just north of a notorious accident hotspot along the A367.
For Steve, the junction is stressful and frequently congested: “If you’re coming out of the village you could be there for ages. There’s too much traffic.”
The junction has been a source of local concern for almost two decades, with villagers campaigning for the installation of a roundabout to improve safety and reduce accidents by slowing down vehicles.
READ MORE: Beloved Dad and Grandad Remembered in This Week’s Somerset Funeral Notices
READ MORE: Five Essential Pollinator Plants to Grow Now for Autumn and Winter Gardens
In 2023, Bath and North East Somerset Council announced plans to build the long-awaited roundabout. However, the project has recently been shelved due to high costs and replaced with a series of more affordable measures. These include introducing high-friction surfacing on the road and lowering the speed limit from 50mph to 40mph.
Reverend David Winstanley, speaking on a mild September morning, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the new speed limit: “I don’t think the speed limit’s a problem. I think people sticking to the speed limit is a problem. If you’re doing 50mph, I think there’s time to see you and there’s time to see anything else.”
Conversely, 75-year-old Carol Walker is more optimistic. She often encounters drivers accelerating aggressively near the junction: “I can pull out that junction and as soon as you come out there’s people who have their foot down.”
The A367 junction is a critical link for Peasedown’s community of around 6,500 residents, many of whom commute to nearby towns such as Radstock, Midsomer Norton, and Frome. With only a Tesco Express in Peasedown and no large supermarket, residents commonly travel to supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Lidl in Norton.
While some, like Steve, prefer longer alternative routes to avoid the junction, for many, petrol costs and time constraints make using the junction necessary.
Opinions on how to improve the situation vary. Some villagers believe drivers need to exercise greater personal responsibility, while others support the council’s decision to reduce the speed limit. Many maintain that a roundabout would have been the most effective solution.
At a council cabinet meeting on 10 September, Councillor Lucy Hodge explained the change in plans: “The roundabout was considered as part of the Somer Valley Links programme to improve bus priority. However, detailed assessments showed it would not deliver the anticipated benefits and would be very expensive compared with other options.”
She added that the programme will focus on “a package of improvements” including carriageway narrowing, high-friction surfacing, better crossing facilities, and reducing the speed limit to 40mph. These measures aim to reduce vehicle speeds, improve road safety for all users, and support more efficient bus movements.
Importantly, Councillor Hodge noted that these measures do not rule out the possibility of installing a roundabout in the future should transport needs, funding, or evidence justify it. The council will continue to assess infrastructure requirements along the A367 corridor.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson emphasised the importance of evidence-based decision-making: “Detailed assessment and modelling has been undertaken. The proposed package of improvements will enhance safety and represent good value for money.”