ANGRY North Petherton residents and businesses are calling on the County Council to end their traffic 'nightmare' caused by the new Huntworth roundabout layout.

Traffic is particularly bad travelling in the Bridgwater direction and can be seen queueing up through the village causing havoc for drivers, local residents and businesses.

North Petherton resident Hayla Towler is taking a stand and demanding answers.

"There is constant road rage, beeping horns and cars queueing all day right through the village, it is completely ridiculous," Miss Towler said.

"It is putting people off coming into the village, people are missing doctors’ appointments, dogs are overheating, children get tired and upset and people who have had a hard day at work are getting frustrated at being left stationary in North Petherton when they want to get home."

Miss Towler explained that since the work on the roundabout had been completed, it could take up to 45 minutes to complete a journey that normally would only take five minutes.

"It is like this every single day and it is only going to get worse when the kids go back," Miss Towler said.

"There was always some traffic and the odd issue with the HGVs coming through but it has never been like this. North Petherton used to a quiet and peaceful place to live but this situation has become ridiculous."

Local business owner Samantha Hay, who runs SammyLou Gift Shop on Fore Street said she feared for her business unless the problem was sorted soon.

“It is 4pm and I have taken no money today. People just see the traffic and don’t want to come out.

"It really is shocking and has a big impact on my business without a shadow of a doubt. If this carries on we won’t be here much longer," she said.

The Huntworth roundabout off junction 24 of the M5 at Bridgwater was reopened last month after work costing £2.9m.

Drivers have been seen driving through red traffic lights and a number of collisions have been reported.

Somerset County Council said the phasing of the lights would be altered to try to resolve the problem.

North Petherton resident Richard Snook, who lives in a flat above Fore Street, described the traffic as a 'living nightmare'.

“It is the middle of the summer and it is hot, but I don’t want to open the windows because of the constant noise of the traffic, all you can hear are the engines. It takes me ages to pull out of the driveway onto the High Street because it so clogged up, people have been queueing so long they do not want to let you in. It has been an absolute living nightmare.”

“I regularly visit my brother who lives in West Street. I have started taking a six mile detour along the back roads because it is better than joining the queue.”

Somerset District Councillor for the North Petherton Ward Bill Revans said: "I am hugely disappointed that the Huntworth Roundabout changes are so far failing to resolve traffic issues around Junction 24 and are disrupting North Petherton, Stockmoor and Wilstock residents and businesses so heavily."

"There are three main issues: The roundabout design is far too complicated with too many traffic lights confusing motorists and thereby causing delays and accidents; the lane markings and the signage are misleading and in places wrong; and the works are actually unfinished with lanes still out of use and the entrance to Bridgwater Gateway still to be completed."

"After so many years in the planning stage, it makes me angry that there are so many problems so soon," Mr Revans added.

"To carry on with the gas pipeline works after months of disruption and at peak holiday time was very short sighted. We deserve a break!"