Somerset Council is under increasing pressure from local councillors who warn the authority risks “setting itself up for a fall” due to repeated delays in delivering the Chard eastern relief road (ERR). This long-awaited road aims to alleviate congestion at the busy convent link junction—where the A30 meets the A358—and support new housing developments within the Chard eastern development area (CEDA).
On April 21, Somerset Council’s planning committee south approved plans for 67 homes near A358 Hornsbury Hill, safeguarding crucial land for the northernmost section of the ERR. However, councillors continued to voice concerns regarding the council officers’ slow progress and the absence of a clear, defined route for the road.
The ERR’s concept has been part of Somerset’s planning landscape for decades, with its route partially embedded in the South Somerset Local Plan and due to be constructed incrementally alongside housing developments. Originally, the road was designed to start at a new roundabout on A358 Tatworth Road as part of a 236-home Persimmon development. It would then cross B3162 Forton Road, curve east around Lordleaze Hotel, follow new roundabouts to the Millfield industrial estate, over the A30 Crewkerne Road, and continue north past various housing developments including Gladman Developments’ 230-home project and Oaklands’ 78-home estate. The final stretch would follow Touches Lane near Chard Reservoir, crossing Chaffcombe Road and joining A358 Hornsbury Hill via a new roundabout intended to link with Thorndun Park Drive.
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The newest plans propose delivering the northern section between Gillingham Grange care home and the recently approved Welcome Home Farm development. Funding for this comes partly from a Section 106 legal agreement with the 67-home project, which includes £419,740 earmarked for this segment of the ERR. This money must be spent within ten years of construction starting.
Several councillors raised questions at the April 21 planning committee meeting in Yeovil about the road’s construction and funding. Councillor Jenny Kenton, representing Chard North, questioned why developers haven’t contributed more directly to building the road. “Each development was supposed to provide a portion of the road,” she said. “I’ve been involved in this for 17 years and we still haven’t built anything. I’m concerned this land will just remain a grassy strip instead of becoming a functioning road.”
Service Manager Dawn de Vries explained that while some developments proposed the relief road as a central corridor, this wasn’t feasible here due to the nursing home already occupying part of the route. Adam Garland, principal planning liaison officer, added that the council intends to deliver this section internally but did not provide a timeline: “Our major projects team can handle design and construction, and decisions are ongoing.”
Councillor Martin Wale criticized the lack of transparency and updates about the ERR’s status. “This road has been in plans since 1997, through successive local plans, but we’re rarely informed about progress,” he said. “The public frequently asks us about it, yet we have little information to share.”
Garland confirmed discussions are still underway and indicated future briefings for councillors and local stakeholders might be arranged once decisions are concrete. Councillor Jason Baker questioned whether the council was risking failure given the project’s 20-year history and uncertainty around funding timelines.
De Vries acknowledged the political pressure to deliver the road and emphasized the importance of allocated land and financial contributions, which help motivate progress. She noted, “If the money isn’t used within ten years, it usually reverts back, so there is a ticking clock encouraging action.”
Following unanimous approval of the outline plans for the 67 new homes, a detailed reserved matters application outlining the design and layout is expected by the end of the year.