Work Completed successfully on new Roundabout Traffic Islands.

Councillor Cherry Beath worked with Officers for some weeks to make amendments to the two crossing islands on the new Roundabout layout at the top of Ralph Allen Drive. This was following damage by large, over weight vehicles to the historic Ralph Allen Pillars. It is thought more traffic had been using the road due to the temporary closure of the A36′ and the Widcombe Road works in previous months.

She agreed that the kerb heights on both islands be reduced, to allow large vehicles to run over edges if necessary, and the Eastern Island to be moved back considerably to allow a larger turning area for the turning to and from RalphAllen Drive. The junction appears to be working well. Officers are seeking costings for the repairs needed to the historic Pillars, this will mean a road closure for a short period, once the contractors have been agreed, as a crane will be needed to correct the top of the eastern Pillar, and expert stone work will need to be done on the chips caused to both pillars. It is worth noting that these are not the first knocks to the pillars unfortunately, there are pictures of chips to the pillars dating back numbers of years, by lack of careful driving negotiating this junction.

Cllr Cherry Beath said

” I urged Officers to start this work as quickly as possible, following damage to the Pillars and they came up trumps, completing the work efficiently and quickly. I am liaising with Officers over the plans to repair the pillars, and pleased to have involved the support of the World Heritage Steering Group in Bath, and the Combe Down Heritage Association. This might well be very costly work, but I hope we can rely on the New Council Administration to provide the budget and start the process soon.”