Cheddar Gorge is without doubt one of the most recognisable features of the landscape in Somerset, but for too long it has been mired with anti-social behaviour and speeding drivers.
Last year, Sedgemoor’s Conservative leadership ring-fenced £15,000 to tackle the problem, but Cheddar Valley council candidates Graham Godwin-Pearson and Jeff Savage want to go further.
James Heappey MP has met with Graham and Jeff to discuss the potential for closing the Gorge to traffic at certain times, replacing cars with community events such as food festivals and perhaps even film nights, both of which will also help to boost tourism and support local businesses.
James, Graham and Jeff also have an open dialogue with Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford about installing noise cameras, which penalise the drivers of deliberately noisy cars. These have been trialled in London and Farnham and can be very effective at reducing anti-social behaviour.
James says, “The county council, as it becomes the new Somerset Council with unitary powers has a real opportunity to do something different in the way that it runs the highway in the Gorge.
“If you want to get the Gorge sorted, vote for Jeff and Graham.”
