Somerset motorists approaching Bath have begun using a makeshift toll road built across a farmer's field to avoid a huge diversion caused by an extended highway closure.

Local businessman Mike Watts (pictured) opened up the 365m long toll route on Friday near the village of Kelston after a landslip in February closed part of the A431. He says that the closure turned his eight minute daily commute to Bath into a 22km diversion, which could take over an hour.

“The A431 is a main arterial route into Bath and I am just one of hundreds of people displaced by its closure," he told TP Weekly News. “The impact of the Kelston Toll Road has been absolutely incredible and the response from the public is very positive."

Mr Watts explained that the idea for the toll road came from a conversation in a pub with farmer John Dillon who owns the land. Both men agreed that the A431 was not being repaired quickly enough and wanted to help people get their journeys back to normal.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is not supportive of the toll road however. A spokesman said: “We appreciate the difficulties that local residents have experienced since the emergency closure, but will not encourage proposals that have not been proven to be safe or compliant with statutory requirements.

“The Council has no details to confirm the toll road design meets safety standards and no evidence that insurances are in place for any member of the public who uses the private toll road.”

The council said its highway maintenance contractor Skanksa plans to work continually on the A431 repair project until completion at the end of December.

Mr Watts said he intends to keep the toll road open until then, charging £2 for cars and £1 for motorbikes to recoup the £150,000 spent on construction and the £1000 per day spent on running and operation.

“The house is on the line if it doesn’t work out,” he added.

(Photo: Edwin Watts)

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