New roadworks have started on a busy Somerset road only days after it reopened following extensive repairs to a sinkhole.
The B3152 Station Road in Castle Cary, a crucial route connecting the town centre to the railway station and serving multiple new housing developments, first experienced problems in July 2021. Temporary traffic lights were installed by Somerset Council in July 2024 along the stretch between Almsford Close and Victoria Gardens junctions as part of ongoing mitigation efforts.
The full repair of the sinkhole was completed on Friday, 14 August 2024, after the road had been closed for several months to allow safe and thorough works.
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However, by Monday, 17 August - merely three days after reopening - Persimmon Homes Severn Valley implemented temporary traffic lights just south of the repaired sinkhole location. These will remain in place until 30 November to facilitate a partial road closure necessary for ongoing development work.
Persimmon Homes received approval in April to develop the Tor View site to the west of Station Road. The project will deliver 162 new homes, commercial premises, and a primary school. Since approval, construction has proceeded rapidly, with the removal of mature hedgerows along the road causing concern among residents.
Councillor Henry Hobhouse, representing Castle Cary and nearby villages, confirmed the current work aims to enhance local drainage as part of the new development’s infrastructure improvements. He explained, “Persimmon requested their closure to extend until November, having initially been asked to undertake the work between April and now. They only began drainage work two weeks ago. Persimmon is covering the cost of the traffic lights.”
Information on this and other ongoing roadworks in Castle Cary is available at www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/roadworks-and-travel.
The Persimmon roadworks will coincide with this year’s Castle Cary and Ansford Carnival, scheduled for 17 October. The procession will finish near the junction of Station Road and Victoria Gardens, just south of the temporary traffic lights, ensuring minimal disruption for participants and spectators.
To facilitate the procession, Churchfield Drive, Florida Fields, Victoria Gardens, and Victoria Park will be closed from 4pm on the day as the event sets up.
Local residents and travellers are advised to plan for additional journey times due to the extended roadworks.