THERE are fears West Somerset's tourism industry could suffer a major blow if a new roundabout is built on one of the main routes into the district at the height of the busy summer season.

Work was due to start on creating a new roundabout at the Station Road crossroads on the A358 at Bishops Lydeard last month.

But the Free Press has learnt that construction has been delayed because of uncertainties over whether the underpass leading from the West Somerset Railway side of the road to the village can take the weight of the roundabout.

Bishops Lydeard Parish Council was told in February to expect at least a two-week delay "due to an assessment being required of the structure of the underpass".

But the work is now more than a month behind schedule and Somerset County Council said this week it was still not sure when construction would start.

West Somerset businesses are already fearing the worst after pictures of the flood-hit Levels hit television screens nationwide, sparking a "we are open for business" campaign locally.

And now there are concerns that tourists who are not put off by the floods could simply take their business elsewhere if they are faced with tailbacks on the A358.

A county council spokesman said that although a start date had yet to be agreed, if the work did happen over the summer months everything possible would be done to minimise disruption.

"At this stage we do not have a confirmed start date so we cannot say whether the work will take place over the summer holiday season," he said.

"If it does, we would take this into consideration and working methods would be adapted to ensure that traffic flows are managed efficiently and effectively through the work area."

"We are working closely with the developer to agree an appropriate design for the new roundabout which includes assessing the impact on the existing local highway.

"We are in contact with the contractor so that the work can start as soon as the design is approved."

Minehead county councillor Terry Venner said he had been told some months ago that the roundabout would not be built until the autumn and was horrified by the prospect that construction could now come in the summer.

He said he would be asking highways chiefs what their plans were to try and ensure the road was not dug up until September at the earliest.

"It doesn't matter how much you tell people West Somerset is open for business, they already think the entire county is under water, and if there are roadworks on the A358 as well it's going to have even more of an impact," he said.

"When they were doing the work at Cross Keys last month using temporary traffic lights it took me two and a half hours to get to a meeting in County Hall.

"Any work at Bishops Lydeard has a major impact on West Somerset and needs to be done out of season, otherwise it will be a total nightmare for everyone."

His concerns were echoed by West Somerset Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor, who welcomed the road safety benefits the new roundabout would bring but added:

"If construction work runs into the busy summer season when visitors are using that route into West Somerset, it could have serious implications for our tourism industry.

"Tourism plays a major part in West Somerset's economy and we do all that we can to encourage people to share our glorious coast and countryside – the Quantocks, Exmoor, the beaches and the rugged shoreline.

"We are shouting very loudly that West Somerset is open for business – but if people encounter long hold-ups and traffic jams as they approach the final part of their journey they will not get the best first impression.

"I will be taking this up with Somerset County Council to see how we can work together to reach an acceptable solution."