After enduring years of potholes and deteriorating surfaces, Ewart Road in Milton, Weston-super-Mare, was recently resurfaced to the delight of local residents. However, the smooth new surface has quickly attracted a surge of motorists using the residential street as a rat run, prompting significant concerns among those living there.
Residents have presented a petition to North Somerset Council, urging the implementation of traffic restrictions under the Road Traffic Act 1984 to prevent motorists, including commercial and heavy vehicles, from using Ewart Road as a shortcut between Milton Road and Locking Road.
Local councillors Catherine Gibbons and Richard Tucker, both Labour members who campaigned for the resurfacing, acknowledged this unintended consequence at the petition presentation on 8 September. Ms Gibbons commented, “This is, I think, an unintended consequence of the fact that it is a wonderful road now and people like to speed down it.”
READ MORE: UK’s Oldest Lido in Bath Reopens for One Day Amid Restoration Plans
READ MORE: Planning Inquiry Opens on Controversial Trull Green Wedge Housing Proposal
Stretching approximately 400 metres, Ewart Road is a narrow, residential street that had suffered from a crumbling surface for years. Since its recent refurbishment, it has become notably smoother and more attractive to drivers seeking a quicker route.
The petition emphasises that imposing traffic restrictions would enhance the environment for residents, reduce pollution, and improve safety for pedestrians and school children who regularly use the area. It calls on the council to prioritise these measures to address the growing concerns over increased traffic volumes and speeding on the road.