Road repairs will help avoid Boscastle-type flood in Dulverton

REPAIR works are to be carried out on a main road out of Dulverton on to Exmoor to help prevent a Boscastle-style flooding disaster.
The B3233 Dulverton to Marsh Bridge road is in danger of collapsing into the River Barle and will need to be closed for up to three months for the repairs.
Highways engineers will use the closure time to reconstruct a failing retaining wall in Northmoor Road to keep the road safe.
Work is due to start on Monday, April 30, and could last until July 20.
A public meeting is being held on Wednesday, April 25, in Dulverton Town Hall, to explain the scheme to residents.
The meeting starts at 7 pm and will be attended by Somerset highways structures manager Peter Radford and highway manager David Peake.
The retaining wall reconstruction work will prevent the possibility of a dangerous collapse of a section of the road into the river, which would cause the loss of public utilities to many homes and businesses in Dulverton as well as an enforced road closure lasting many months and the destabilising of properties on the far side of the road.
Historical records show that some riverside cottages in Dulverton were washed away during a serious flood in the 1950s.
Improvements were undertaken at the time and since, but more work is now needed to extend to a further section of the wall.
Councillor John Edwards, who represents Dulverton and Exmoor on Somerset County Council, said: “It is regrettable that there will be disruption while this essential improvement work is being carried out, but we hope that residents and road users will bear with us.
“Everybody can be assured we are fully focussed on the need to get a proper job done as safely and quickly as possible.”
Dulverton Town Council chairman, CouncillorChris Nelder, said: “Locals will all know that the beautiful River Barle does occasionally bare its teeth and our first priority must be to keep the road and residents’ property safe.”
Mr Radford said: “Concerns in these kinds of locations has increased after recent flooding events such as Boscastle.
“The old wall has lost nearly all of its stone facing and this whole section, lying on the outside bend of the river, could be eroded away very swiftly if there was a serious flood. This work is necessary to ensure safety to road users.
“Everybody can rest assured we are doing everything we can to reduce the time the job takes but I must be realistic and not be over-optimistic. If we can beat the July 20 deadline and get the road safely open to traffic earlier, we certainly will.”
Progress notices will be posted around the town, together with diversion routes.
Preparatory work for the scheme, including tree felling and utility diversions, was carried out during the winter, but because of environmental and river level constraints the main work was delayed until now.
As the work involves a road closure and is taking place during the summer months, Somerset Highways has developed a design to minimise the construction period and environmental impact.
There will be a pedestrian path past the work at all times and continued access to businesses and properties close to the site.
To add to the complexity of the scheme, the River Barle at this point is a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the presence of river jelly lichen on the river bed.
On the engineering side, borehole investigations behind the wall revealed the presence of extremely hard but thinly-bedded siltstone extending several yards below the river bed and this has made the design more complicated.
Anybody who would like an update on the road closure is asked to telephone Somerset Direct on 0845 9155.
For any other information about the project, people should contact project team members Keith Dingle or Julian Mitchell on 01823 483035.

• Our photographs show (top) the dilapidated section of wall supporting Northmoor Road where a leaning telegraph pole - beside the white van on the right - helped alert engineers to the problem, and (middle) a close-up view of old wall showing lost stonework and areas where the road is being undermined. Photos submitted.

Dulverton community being asked to help combat anti-social behaviour

RESIDENTS of Dulverton are being invited to a community meeting on January 17 to help come up with a solution for a wave of anti-social behaviour which has struck the town.
West Somerset Council is co-ordinating the meeting, which is being held at 7 pm in Dulverton Town Hall.
The council wants to build on the positive action taken so far in response to the anti-social behaviour which was experienced last autumn.
The council’s community safety officer, Pete Hughes, said: “Although the incidents were of a relatively minor nature, the council has met with Dulverton Town Council, Avon and Somerset Police, the county youth service, and local housing providers to take positive action to help ensure incidents do not become more serious or more frequent.
“At the meeting, we will be reassuring local people and asking them if they would like to form a community group to help ensure our recent achievements turn into long-term solutions.”
A town council representative is already working with local agencies to deal with the problems.
Steps taken so far include an increased police presence, better signposting to youth activities, and action by housing providers against nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
Mr Hughes said: “By and large, this sort of behaviour is uncharacteristic of Dulverton.
“In line with all parishes in West Somerset, Dulverton is one of the safest places to live in the country.
“However, we do not expect local communities to have to put up with anti-social behaviour which is why we have acted swiftly to address issues.
“So far, the reaction to our initiatives has been very good, with a significant drop in anti-social behaviour in the area.
“However, our achievements are more likely turn into long-term benefits if the community is part of the solution.
“With this in mind, we are appealing for as many local people as possible to contribute time and energy towards achieving the shared goals for Dulverton.
“We are hoping that the community will show its commitment to the future social well-being of the town and come to the meeting next week to decide how it would like to see our recent efforts taken forward.”

• Our photographs show Dulverton Town Hall, in The Square, and also the Lorna Doone statue which stands beside the Exmoor House Lawns. Photos submitted.