SEDGEMOOR District Councillor Anne Fraser (pictured), ward member for North Petherton, has responded to the Mercury’s front page of January 20 with the following Letter to the Editor:

“Gridlock”! “Chaos”! What emotive words to headline the Bridgwater Mercury (January 20) about the roadworks due to start at the Taunton Road/Broadway Junction. Please note – due to start.

While it is acknowledged there will be some disruption and delays, are the authors of those words actually trying to deter people from coming to Bridgwater to do their shopping, spend their recreation time etc when works have yet to start in earnest?

Habits form very quickly and we do not want people who usually come into the town to be put off and choose to go elsewhere. Bridgwater is growing and there is a huge investment into the town and to accommodate that some things need to be improved to cope with the additional people and jobs.

SDC, Somerset County Council and Bridgwater Town Council have been assured by EDF Energy that they are doing, and will do, everything possible to keep the impact of these works to a minimum.

This includes very strict timetables and numbers of lorries travelling to Hinkley Point only at allotted times.

I urge people to visit the EDF Energy Information Centre in Angel Place and see their traffic and lorry management systems put in place to make sure that the traffic is controlled and managed.

Not only will I be doing all within my power to ensure any disruption is minimal I shall also fully understand why residents from my ward travel to Taunton, rather than Bridgwater, as a result of reading this alarmist article.