A narrow footpath on a busy road will finally be cleared following a ‘bushy’ protest by a local resident.

Pedestrians wishing to travel between Chard and Tatworth have to negotiate a narrow and overgrown footpath which runs along the A358 arterial road.

Chard resident Jill White took matters into her own hands on Thursday (July 14), standing on the offending footpath in very little clothing with placards reading: “I’ve trimmed my bush, now Highways trim yours” (in reference to Somerset County Council’s highways department).

Her two county councillors have now confirmed that work to clear the footpath and trim the hedges will begin next week.

Ms White carried out her protest on one of the hottest days on the year, wearing little besides some strategically positioned leaves and pieces of cardboard, and taking a wheelchair with her.

She said her actions were borne out of frustration that the path had not been made safe despite repeated requests by her and others.

She said: “After repeatedly requesting that the footpath from Tatworth to Chard be passable for pedestrians, wheelchair users and pushchairs, and after [the council’s] inaction I decided to have my own personal, light-hearted protest.

“I’ve been requesting it for nearly two years. We have a fuel crisis and a poor bus service, so people are having to walk.

“We’re coming into the school holidays, and an accident will happen.”

The A358 Tatworth Road lies within the Chard Eastern Development Area (CEDA), where the majority of Chard’s new housing will be delivered in the coming decades.

Tilia Homes is currently constructing 200 homes on the Snowdon Grange site just off the A358, with Summerfield Developments having permission for a further 94 homes immediately to the south and Persimmon Homes South West seeking approval for a further 252 homes nearby.

Despite this, there have been limited efforts made in recent times to widen or enhance the existing footpaths, leaving pedestrians and other road users vulnerable to cars.

Both county councillors for the Chard South division – who were elected in May – have confirmed separately that the footpath would be cleared and the offending hedges trimmed within a matter of days.

Councillor Connor Payne – the Conservatives’ opposition spokesman for the environment and climate change – shared an email exchange with one of the county council’s highway officers on social media.

Derek Davies, the council’s assistant highways service manager, stated in an email: “We are currently in discussions with our contractors regarding obtaining resource to enable the works to remove the vegetation from the foot-ways to be carried out.

“In the meantime, we will intervene and carry out a safety cut of the hedges. It is hope that this will be done early next week.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Jason Baker added: “There has been a work order raised and I am now chasing a date for the work to be completed.

“We need to ensure that the path is cleared as well as the undergrowth being cut.”