PARISH councillors were left ‘gobsmacked’ on learning Somerset Council has spent more than £100,000 on signs saying a West Somerset road is closed due to a bank slippage, rather than using the money to repair the damage.

The news was broken to Dunster Parish Council by Somerset Cllr Cara Strom, who said she could hardly believe it herself.

The road near Nutcombe Bottom, home to the tallest tree in England, is used by local people to reach Luxborough.

But, officially, it has been shut for two-and-a-half years since a tree was uprooted in Storm Darragh, causing part of the bank to drop 10 feet into a stream.

Some of the £100,000 of signage paid for by Somerset Council to state a road is closed is inspected by Dunster parish Cllrs Steve Harris (left) and Kevin Sully. PHOTO: George Ody.
Some of the £100,000 of signage paid for by Somerset Council to state a road is closed is inspected by Dunster parish Cllrs Steve Harris (left) and Kevin Sully. PHOTO: George Ody. (George Ody)

A year later, a second slippage occurred nearby, which councillors attributed to 40-tonne Forestry England articulated lorries using the single track road.

Parish council vice-chairman Cllr Kevin Sully said he asked Cllr Strom to investigate the cost after he learned the near-bankrupt unitary authority paid a private contractor to put out and maintain road signs rather than doing it itself.

Cllr Sully told the Free Press: “Everybody was gobsmacked, we could not believe it.

“The job would not have cost that much, it is a week’s work for a contractor.

‘The public need to be made aware of the waste of money, whenever you see signs left at the side of the road, it is costing you money.

“If they repaired the smaller slip-out, the road to Luxborough could be open again and used.

Signs like these thrown into a hedge at the junction of the A396 near Dunster and a closed road to Luxborough, are continuing to cost council taxpayers money.
Signs like these thrown into a hedge at the junction of the A396 near Dunster and a closed road to Luxborough, are continuing to cost council taxpayers money. (Tindle News)

“We have asked for a meeting on site, but they will not meet us.”

Fellow Dunster parish Cllr Steve Harris said: “If you have got no money, why do you spend it on renting signs?

“The issue is getting their priorities right, spending the money wisely.”

The Free Press has asked Somerset Council to justify spending on signs rather than repairs, but it did not respond.