A COUNTY councillor has expressed fears that lives could be lost if emergency services are delayed when the main road from Taunton to Minehead shuts completely for two weeks next month.

The A358 will be closed for drainage improvements and resurfacing from March 18 to 31 at Black Arch, the bridge which takes West Somerset Railway over the A358 in Sampford Brett parish.

This week, Cllr Hugh Davies, who represents Watchet and Stogursey division, told the Free Press he was grateful the county council had received funding for the repairs and this was a good time to do them before the holiday season.

But he remained anxious about alternative routes for emergency services, and the problem of lorries with satnavs on small lanes.

“Anxious is an understatement,” he said.

Cllr Davies wrote to the highways department to highlight his worries and a reply said no traffic, including emergency services, would be able to use the closed section of road, and all the emergency services had been included in consultations over the closure.

The official alternative route to avoid the closed section was to take the A39 to Bridgwater then A38 to Taunton.

The reply letter said that bus company First Bus had decided to use the B3224 from Bishops Lydeard to Raleghs Cross then come down Sticklepath to Washford Cross and then Williton. It estimated that would add 15 minutes to the journey time.

Full report in today’s Free Press.