SIR — Would you believe it?! No sooner do we have in place a solution to the loss in September of a bus route to Minehead from outlying villages (AtWest running a new shoppers' service) than plans by Somerset County Council towards flood relief at Bilbrook by improving drainage, means closure of this stretch of the A39 for about three weeks from the beginning of November.

The impact on existing bus services in this part of West Somerset is frustrating to say the least, as notice had not been given to operators when the information was in the Free Press (October 11).

One wonders why such necessary work could not be done outside commuting hours. Lack of advance communication has meant peak times for bus services have had to be frantically reviewed, causing headaches for many operators, in the very short space of time availaible before the closure takes place.

We have no guarantee either, with weather conditions expected to deteriorate, that the closure will only last three weeks.

Those of us using the new AtWest service on what was called by a previous operator Village Link, are very fortunate in that we have all been issued (October 18) with an alternative bus route timetable to see us through this awkward period, including a special bus for those on the Blue Anchor side of the A39.

We do hope other bus operators will be able to rethink their routes without too much trouble, including commercial vehicles of course.

Maintenance work of this kind is essential we know, but this plan has not been thought through with consideration for the many who need to use this part of the A39 on a regular basis.

Mrs J Hand,

Hayman's Cottages,

Roadwater.