Somerset Council is facing mounting criticism from local councillors over ongoing delays in delivering the Chard eastern relief road (ERR), a project aimed at easing traffic congestion and supporting new housing developments in the town.
The ERR has been a key objective for Somerset planning officers for decades, intended to relieve pressure at the congested Convent Link junction—the meeting point of the A30 and A358—and to facilitate the development of new homes in the Chard Eastern Development Area (CEDA).
On April 21, the council’s planning committee for South Somerset approved plans for 67 homes on the A358 Hornsbury Hill. This decision simultaneously safeguarded land for the northernmost section of the ERR. Despite this progress, councillors expressed frustration over the slow pace of the road’s delivery and continued uncertainty about the exact route.
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The ERR’s route was outlined in the South Somerset Local Plan, with various segments scheduled to be built alongside new housing developments. The road is planned to start at a new roundabout on the A358 Tatworth Road—potentially constructed as part of a Persimmon Homes development of 236 houses. From there, it would cross the B3162 Forton Road, curve eastward around the Lordleaze Hotel, and include new roundabouts leading to the Millfield industrial estate and over the A30 Crewkerne Road.
Beyond this, the road would run north through areas affected by recent developments: the 230-home Gladman development, approved in January, and the Oaklands estate completed in 2022. The final stretch follows the current route of Touches Lane near Chard Reservoir, crossing Chaffcombe Road and linking to the A358 Hornsbury Hill via a new roundabout, originally planned to connect with Thorndun Park Drive.
Under the latest scheme, the ERR’s northern segment will be built between the Gillingham Grange care home and the newly approved Welcome Home Farm estate, with land reserved from both developments. A Section 106 legal agreement for the 67 homes includes a contribution of £419,740 toward this section of the ERR, funds that must be used within ten years of construction starting.
Councillors voiced deep concerns during the April 21 meeting in Yeovil. Councillor Jenny Kenton questioned why developers were not delivering the road segment concurrently with their housing projects. “We’ve been discussing this for 17 years and still have no road. I fear it will remain just an unused strip of grass,” she said.
Development management service manager Dawn de Vries explained that other sites propose different routes for the relief road, noting that the nursing home development affected the current plan. Adam Garland, the council’s principal planning liaison officer, confirmed that the council’s major projects team would handle the design and construction but declined to provide a timeline, stating that ongoing meetings are set to determine next steps.
Councillor Martin Wale criticized the council’s lack of communication with local representatives and the public. “This has been in plans since 1997, yet we are seldom updated. The community deserves clarity on the route and progress,” he asserted.
While discussions continue, Garland acknowledged that no concrete decisions have been made yet, making detailed briefings premature. Councillor Jason Baker voiced concerns about the long timeline since the project’s inception, warning the council might be “setting itself up for a fall” by committing funds without a clear construction schedule.
De Vries added that financial contributions tied to infrastructure projects often come with time limits and cautioned that if funds aren’t used within ten years, they may have to be returned. She expressed hope that ongoing talks would accelerate progress.
The planning committee unanimously approved the outline plans, with detailed designs for the development expected by the end of the year. However, significant questions remain about when the ERR itself will finally be completed, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing development goals with infrastructure delivery in Somerset.