A RETIRED priest and his wife believe that "carnage in Chard" is waiting to happen unless something is done quickly to rectify an ever-worsening accident blackspot in the town.

Only last week there were several accidents involving motorists at the chicane-style narrow stretch of Church Street where drivers have to negotiate a difficult and tight bend around the King's Head pub.

Now residents are demanding action is taken to sort out the problems before somebody is killed.

Fr Michael Galloway (pictured) and his wife Carol, who have lived in Church Street for the past year, are worried that the accidents will go on and nothing will be done unless they put pressure on the local authorities. They told the News how lorry drivers go up from Old Town and can only negotiate a blind bend around the pub into Church Street by moving onto the other side of the road.

Fr Michael said: "It is becoming increasingly dangerous and speaking on behalf of other residents in Church Street we are getting very worried about it.

"Lorries can't get round that bend by the pub without going onto the other side of the road."

Mrs Galloway added: "Sooner or later somebody is going to be killed. Something must be done because it is madness out there at the moment."

The couple said they were fearful there could be an accident in which a lorry or car crashes into the King's Head pub.

"You can only imagine what the carnage would be like if that happened and the pub was busy with people inside," they said.

Clerk to Chard Town Council John Furze described the situation in Church Street as a "nightmare" and said that it was a matter for Somerset County Council's highways department. Traffic in Church Street is a nightmare and will continue to be so," he added. "It should be remembered that Church Street is part of the A358 - the cross-county route from the Bristol Channel to the English Channel - and while it is a county highways matter, there really isn't a logical diversion for HGVs."

Cllr Dave Bulmer, of Chard Town Council and South Somerset District Council, whose ward includes Church Street, said he had every sympathy with the residents.

"We have been concerned about this issue for a long time. There have been many accidents in that area and there are likely to be more. Drivers come down from the Tatworth approach and there is not great visibility from either side of the junction. When lorries come down they have no option but to go on the other side of the road."

Landlord of the King's Head Colin Foster, who has been there for four years, said: "Something definitely needs to be done because cars are coming into Chard on that road far too quickly and the existing 30mph speed limit is too fast.

"I don't really know what you can do about the lorries because there isn't really an alternative road for them to use. But I would like to see some sort of traffic calming measures introduced. I don't like them, but perhaps speed bumps in the road might help.

"Up to now nothing has hit the pub, but there is always a chance that could happen."

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said extra traffic warning signs had been put up in the area to try and improve safety for motorists.

9:07am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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