RESIDENTS in a Wincanton street were left confused and contained after waking to find their cars fenced in on their driveways.

Workers in Balsam Fields had placed barriers along the street and started work before many tried to leave their homes.

When they did, they found their driveways fenced off as work continued.

Gigaclear, the internet company on whose behalf the work is being carried out, has apologised.

Among those affected was Kirsten Hearn, who tried to leave her home at around 8am.

“I honestly appreciate they have a job to do,” she said. “The noise at 8am is a nuisance but it happens.

“It’s just the fact of being blocked in with no warning.

“If asked, I’d have parked my car elsewhere.”

Footpaths were also difficult to navigate during the work in Wincanton

She said as well as vehicles being fenced in, footpaths were also unusable for pedestrians – including people with pushchairs or wheelchairs.

“This road is a through road for both primary schools,” she explained.

“Their vans are all along the road. Single-file traffic, footpaths blocked, needing to go on the road in places.

“It’s not very safe for pedestrians with young children and pushchairs.”

A spokesperson for Gigaclear said usual warnings ahead of work getting underway had not been distributed.

“We’d like to apologise to residents in Balsam Fields after they woke to discover our engineers working in their street,” they said.

Residents were unable to move their cars

“The team would normally have given residents information in advance advising them of the work being carried out so that they’d have the opportunity to move vehicles. However, on this occasion that did not happen.

“We plan to complete this section of the work on Friday (May 19). In the meantime, we would ask residents who have any issues accessing their properties to speak to one of our on-site team who would be happy to facilitate their request.”