BOSSES at a pre-school near Ilminster are concerned a lengthy road closure could hit its numbers.

Staff at Barrington Pre-School fear parents will be put off using the service because of a time-consuming diversion around the B3168 at New Road.

The road, which connects villages to the north of Ilminster, was closed in mid- February because it was feared it could fall down a slope after cracks appeared in a 70-metre section.

Deputy supervisor Lidia Morgan said: “We have a couple of parents in Ilminster who are doing a massive detour.

“In September numbers are always low but we are hoping that the road closure does not affect this – we can’t run without the children and we are trying to do what we can.”

She said some parents were enduring a 15-20-minute detour, which was proving costly in fuel.

She added: “Parents often have other children at primary school to pick up and drop off, so that is a problem because people have to rush off early to get back into other schools.

“We open until 3pm but sometimes people are running late – we do try to be flexible.

“I would like Somerset County Council to sort it out as soon as possible.”

Pre-school chairman David Hutchinson has told Ilminster’s county council representative Cllr Linda Vijeh that the desire to ensure road users’ safety is coming at a price to the businesses and pre-schools which use the access road.

He added: “The pre-schools in the more remote areas are suffering due to parents perceiving the travel to be too great – with the road closed it is even more of a reason not to join the pre-school.

“With dwindling numbers it is often circumstances like this that would force the pre-school into a dire situation.”

Yesterday (Monday), a spokesman for the county council said repair work would start in November.

Chard & Ilminster News:

The road closure last month.

The spokesman added: “Preliminary interpretation of the geological investigation identifies ground water saturation as the primary cause of the structural damage on the road.

“The necessary repair works will include a new replacement highway drainage system and carriageway and footway strengthening works.

“We are now concentrating on the detailed design of the works with an intention to commence onsite works in November for a period of approximately eight to ten weeks.”

Has the road closure affected you? Get in touch, call 01823-365104 or email newsdesk@chardandilminsternews.co.uk