BURNHAM MP David Heathcoat-Amory has blasted Somerset County Council for scrapping proposed changes to a dangerous stretch of Coast Road in Berrow.

The MP has now written to the minister for transport after it was revealed that plans for a footway and cycle path along the busy Coast Road, which stretches between Berrow and Brean, were to be ditched.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory said: "I have been campaigning for almost as long as I have been an MP for the completion of improvements to the Berrow Coast Road.

"There is still a missing stretch of footpath and cycle way. We are coming up to a holiday period and the road becomes extremely busy, the lack of footpath is creating a danger to all users.

"The road is vital for serving the holiday and caravan park area from Berrow to Brean."

Now the Burnham politician is taking the case to central government, writing to minister Rosie Winterton about the busy road, and again bemoaned the lack of action by the county council on the issue.

He said: "I am fed up with Somerset County Council making excuses for failing to complete the badly needed stretch of road improvements.

"I do not accept this and contacted Rosie Winterton who has confirmed in her reply that the Department of Transport has not blocked the scheme and Somerset County Council has the go ahead to complete."

"The county council must complete the scheme and stop making bogus excuses."

A spokesman for the county council's Highways department again stressed the decision on the footpath had been made after factors assessing the suitability of schemes had changed.

The spokesman said: "The footpath is not currently programmed for construction. The criteria have been revised for assessing the suitability of schemes.

"We are having to focus on the implementation of schemes that offer the best possible value in delivering the shared transport priorities against mandatory and locally agreed targets given in our latest transport plan."