Town councillors in Wellington vented their frustration over the closure of the Tonedale railway bridge when they held a ‘virtual’ meeting last week.

They criticised Network Rail’s communications about the closure – the WWN reported last week it had given four different dates for the start of the work, which began on Monday and could take four-and-a-half weeks.

Councillors also expressed concerns about what the closure may mean for businesses in the area, increased traffic in Rockwell Green and over how bus passengers would cope.

Cllr Andy Govier, speaking at the town council meeting on Monday evening, said: “Their [Network Rail’s] communications have been shocking – they have been confusing and they haven’t listened to what local people have had to say. I understand it’s a difficult structure to maintain but I think with a bit more consultation and clarity we might have got to a better position with it, and been able to come up with some answers.”

Cllr Govier said people had contacted him to say businesses in Tonedale would close, as customers could not get there, and added: “It couldn’t happen at a worse time for many of them on the back of the Covid problem.”

He said the official diversion had to be as far as possible on A-roads, which was why it routed drivers via Bishop’s Hull. He had heard suggestions that traffic lights could be used on the narrow and windy Burchills Hill, which motorists were likely to use to get around the roadworks, but Somerset County Council’s Highways department had told him that would not be possible as it could be seen as encouraging drivers to use that route.

Cllr John Thorne said the focus had been on Tonedale but other parts of town would be affected with Rockwell Green likely to experience traffic issues as more vehicles passed through.

He was also concerned about buses, with stops in Station Road and North Street no longer operational. He wondered if passengers, including individuals with mobility issues and mothers with buggies, would have to trek to High Street.

The WWN reported last week that a shuttle bus would in operation from Wellington Tile Centre to High Street but Cllr Thorne was concerned about the schedule. He said

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“I think they will be extremely lucky if they get a shuttle bus from Tonedale through Burchills and Rockwell Green, and back into the town centre in 13 minutes, so a lot of people are going to be missing their connections if they are not careful.”

Cllr Sean Pringle-Kosikowsky acknowledged the inconvenience the bridge work would cause but recognised the safety issue after taking his wife to work in Milverton. He said: “They [the workmen] were on top of the bridge in a digger, digging out a bridge. It seems quite an unsafe thing, which is surely why they are closing it off.”

Wellington Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said she felt sorry for the businesses and people on the Tonedale side of the bridge but the bridge had to be repaired.

Traffic lights are being used to allow traffic to cross the bridge on school days from 7-10am and between 3-6pm.