COUNCILLORS were left stunned when they discovered that a planned improvement scheme for Taunton Road in Wellington was going to cost more than £1million.

Members of Wellington Town Council received a presentation at their monthly meeting on Monday (November 2) about proposed works on Taunton Road – soon to be renamed Queen Elizabeth Way – from Nynehead Road roundabout towards Priory near the town centre.

The proposals include three signalised crossings suitable for walking and cycling, off-road segregated paths with separate lanes for pedestrians or cyclists along with two-way cycle paths where extra space is available and an off-road shared path to link into an existing route near Lidl.

Also included is a new footway on the south side near Cades Gardens, a proposed speed limit change from 40mph to 30mph from Nynehead Road to join up with existing 30mph limit in the town centre, and on-road cycle lanes.

Somerset Council's principal transport planner Alan Muir and principal project manager Stuart Fountain left councillors flabbergasted.

Their presentation was part of the consultation process into the plans which runs until November 20 at somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com

Mr Muir told councillors that £573,620 had been secured for the project from Section 106 money as a result of the Longforth Farm housing development, while the Government-backed Active Travel England organisation was putting in around £600,000.

But Cllr John Thorne queried: “A million pounds for that?”

Mr Muir told councillors that it cost around £200,000 to install one crossing, so the bill would soon mount up.

Cllr Janet Lloyd said that the project was about four years too late and should have been implemented ahead of the building of the Lidl store in Taunton Road.

“It is awful driving down through that area and I’ve seen pedestrians trying to take refuge on the small islands,” she said.

Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “I welcome the three new crossings – I think everyone in the room recognises there is a need for those.”

But he had reservations about the overall project.

“I’m not going to say that this is a waste of money, but I would say that this is a lot of money for not of a lot of gain,” he said.

Mr Muir, in response, said: “It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s a good start.”

Cllr Thorne said the installation of extra pedestrian crossings was going to make it harder for motorists to get in and out of Wellington.

“I’m not sure everyone will share the same enthusiasm for three new crossings,” he said.

Cllr Andy Govier said the crossings would create a “lot of stopping and frustrations for motorists.”

“I would much rather see a crossing installed further up Taunton Road near St John’s School at the Priory to allow for the safe crossing of children,” he said.

“There is an awful lot of money going into this and I think if the town council was running this we’d have different priorities.”