Newslink March

News
ET is alive and well and running the
traffic department in Clevedon...
Colin Lilly
Editor, MSA GB Newslink
A
Last month we looked at the wavy road
markings that had appeared in Clevedon,
North Somerset. You may recall that the
story gained some traction in the
mainstream national media, too.
Well, here’s the update. The wavy lines
remain but there have been more bizarre
happenings.
I thought I would return to view the
recent developments. I was pleased to
see workmen’s huts, barriers and cones
were gone. Good, I thought, we now
have the finished project.
The wavy lines remain (Photo A, on
this page) but these have now been
joined by a large blank circle at the road.
(Photo B, on the facing page).
Locals have been having a field day on
social media, likening it to a crop circle
left by aliens. Some other suggestions
include a sumo wrestling ring, a folk
dance area and a site for a hot tub.
I am tempted to go along with the first
suggestion and that the aliens have
already landed and infiltrated the minds
of local traffic engineers, with the aim of
introducing the road system used in their
galaxy. It’s all a precursor for an invasion!
If anyone finds these photos
unbelievable I must confess to using
Photoshop to remove a smiley face
someone had painted on it.
When questioned by a resident about
the markings a North Somerset Council
spokesperson is reported to have said:
“The circle was in place by Tuesday
morning and is a part of a new
roundabout layout which will help control
the flow and speed of traffic.
“A ‘buff’ surface will be applied to the
circle in the spring, which vehicles will
be able to drive over.”
I feel the definition of roundabout has
become a little cloudy here. There is little
room for anything larger than a bicycle to
go around the circle, perhaps someone
mistook diameter for radius.
When asked about the lack of Give
Way signs and markings, the
spokesperson added that the drivers
should treat the new roundabout layout
like any other, by giving way to other
road users.
So when is a roundabout not a
roundabout?
No worries; less than 48 hours after I
took these photos a crew of workman
arrived at dead of night to burn these
‘‘
Locals likened the blank
circle to a crop circle left by
aliens... perhaps they are
introducing the same road
system as they have on
their own planet...
‘‘
makings off – something which probably
did wonders for the new surface.
(Photo C. published by the local Save
Our Seafront campaign, on the facing
page)
Immediately after the markings were
replaced by mini-roundabout centre
markings – but still no Give Way lines.
(See Photo D)
Maybe next month I will have another
tale from the bizarre town I used to call
home.
On a serious note, often I find it
difficult to write articles such as this one
in fear of the libel laws. I always think of
libel as not necessarily untrue but
something which can be facts presented
in a way that may be unpalatable to the
subject. Am I upsetting the council by
lampooning them? It is not helped by the
fact that my Council Tax contributes to
this farce... so I deal with it by using a
little humour.
CONTACT
To comment on this article or any other
issue surrounding driver training and
testing, contact Colin via
editor@msagb.com
20 NEWSLINK n MARCH 2023