PARISH councillors in Porlock were deciding this week whether to help pay for a £7,000 traffic calming scheme for an accident blackspot on the A39.
Councillors in Wootton Courtenay and Luccombe had previously decided not to help finance the project, which was being promoted by Selworthy and Minehead Without Parish Council.
The Selworthy council, which has already agreed to contribute financially, wants to see the A39 speed limit reduced to 50mph between the three-lane stretch at Headon Cross and the turning to the village.
But county highways officers have said accident statistics for the road do not meet their criteria for reducing the speed limit.
However, the highways department said measures could be introduced if local communities wanted to cover the estimated £7,000 cost.
Councillors attending Porlock’s full council meeting on Wednesday evening (March 9) were being asked first if they wanted to support the Selworthy proposals and second, if they wanted to contribute financially.
Porlock chairman Cllr Chris Wood told the Free Press: “There have been two or three fatalities in the last few years, maybe more.
“People are driving at extraordinary speeds down this piece of road and there have been a lot of accidents, and the feeling locally is that it is time to try to do something.
“There is a sense that this piece of highway is dangerous. Even if it might not rise to the level of danger that meets the highways department criteria, local people are highly exercised about it.”
A speed reduction would allow parish councils to apply for grants to purchase speed indicator devices (SIDS) to use on the road.
SIDS flash a warning to motorists which encourage them to drive within the speed limit and also record traffic speeds to inform the police where they need to use their mobile safety teams.
Other traffic calming and safety measures might also be possible.
Parish councillors in Wootton Courtenay and Luccombe argued that highways data did not support changing the speed limit and that it was the responsibility of the county council and not local communities to pay for such works.
There was concern that a precedent could be set where parish councils might have to pay for other highways works in future.
County highways staff have pointed out that reducing a speed limit was not as simple as just changing the signs and road markings.
There was a statutory consultation process to go through to approve a new Traffic Regulation Order, part of which involved justifying the proposed changes and demonstrating they were likely to be effective, which could be a lengthy and costly exercise.
Somerset had to follow Department for Transport guidance for setting local speed limits on the county’s 4,100 miles of roads to ensure consistency throughout the country.