Work to reverse town's wiggly lines 'devastating'

Dom Lamy, who owns Escala Tapas Bar on the beachfront, said people will be put off coming to Clevedon

Work to reverse controversial changes to a town's seafront will have a "devastating" impact on trade, a business owner has said.

Three months of work begins today to revise a scheme that saw wiggly road markings and a cycle lane painted to improve road safety on the beachfront in Clevedon, North Somerset.

The road, called The Beach, will be closed to traffic, which Dom Lamy, who owns Escala Tapas Bar and Restaurant, said will "keep people away from the area."

"We promised that we would listen to the community and make changes if they were required and that's what we've done," said Councillor Hannah Young. "Clevedon is not closed."

The works, which will take at least the next 13 weeks to complete, will cost the council £400,000 and see sections of The Beach closed to traffic, buses diverted and seafront parking also affected.

"What we're doing is revising the scheme to reinstate the sea facing car parking, move the cycle lane to the other side of the road, and improve disability access and pedestrian access as well," Ms Young said.

The council faced criticism from residents and businesses when it spent £1.3m on the road scheme in 2022, which the RAC described as one of the "most bizarre" it had ever seen.

The wiggly road markings were painted in 2022 to improve traffic in the area

Mr Lamy said the reversal of the measures "should be good news but it's not."

"The works are going to go on for three months, but it could be longer, it took longer the first time round," he said.

"It's devastating for our business and is going to really affect us. It's already affecting the bookings coming in.

Martin Summerell, who has lived in Clevedon all of his life, said the council has "lost the confidence" of residents.

"It's a partial reversal, it's like sticking a plaster on a terminally ill patient," he said.

"This isn't going to please everybody, it's costing a ridiculous amount of taxpayers money."

Martin Summerell said it's had a huge effect on the town

Ms Young said she believes the council has "done the right thing."

"What we've tried to do is make sure the road is open either at one end or the other through the time of the works.

"Pedestrians will still be able to walk along our lovely seafront, the pier will be open, the bus will still be stopping.

"It's always a difficult decision when money's been spent. There are costs that will help Clevedon in the long term."