SOUTH Somerset’s MP has expressed serious concern about ‘severe road safety worries’ on Forton and Tatworth Roads after witnessing a crash there first hand last week.

Marcus Fysh was visiting a residents group in Chard to discuss the development when he saw two cars collide, resulting in one losing a wing mirror.

Mr Fysh said: “I am concerned about the severe road safety worries with regard to the St Mary’s Church corner and Forton and Tatworth Roads, now that planning has been put in at seemingly too high a density in the first part of the Chard Regeneration Scheme (CRS) to which has come forward.

“Residents explained the application site was actually supposed to be Phase 5 not Phase 1 of the CRS, and the road infrastructure arrangements are not suitable and in no way a relief road as they are apparently being called.

“I used my knowledge of planning to help them and advised them how best to come across and how to approach the council.

“I am certainly myself going to be writing to the council to say they should seriously look at this before the council meeting.

“While inspecting the site, even without the 300 plus new houses’ traffic spilling out onto Forton Road, I witnessed Becky Duke lose her wing mirror to a glancing collision in the narrow lane directly adjacent to where the site entrance.

“I picked it up and was going to send to the council as evidence of the danger, but I was glad Becky came back for and I was able to reunite her with it.”

Becky Duke added: “I just think the roads are really unsafe there as they are really tight and everyone speeds down them even though they know how narrow the roads are; I think there needs to be more awareness.”

Chard town Cllr Irene Glynn, who represents Jocelyn Ward and organised the meeting, said: “The group had attended Chard Town Council’s meeting when the council unanimously rejected the proposal, and also the Forton and Tatworth Parish Council meeting when the proposal was also rejected.

“They wanted to know what their next step should be, prior to the Area West Committee Meeting on the September 21 and so I contacted Marcus Fysh on their behalf who agreed to meet with the residents to listen to their concerns.

“The three main issues that the residents raised were to do with the traffic, landscape and massing, and the lack of amenities.

“Finally, they voiced concerns regarding the lack of local amenities such as doctors, dentists and school places.”