Councillors have welcomed opportunities for stronger partnership working to address key challenges around motorway disruption in Somerset.
Somerset Council’s Climate, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee recently invited National Highways, Avon and Somerset Police, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss M5 incident management and the impact motorway closures can have on residents, businesses and local communities.
Members recognised the complexity of managing major incidents and supported a collaborative approach to reducing disruption wherever possible.
Following Scrutiny’s recommendations, Executive has now backed the creation of a multi-agency working group bringing together Somerset Council, National Highways, Avon and Somerset Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The group would analyse incident data, identify opportunities for improvement and develop a co-ordinated plan to help reduce the frequency and duration of motorway closures.
Members also supported further exploration of the potential for a Somerset Road Safety Partnership, bringing organisations together to improve road safety through prevention, education and enforcement activities.
They also agreed for the Leader of Somerset Council to write to Government highlighting the issue of repeated M5 closures.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transport Richard Wilkins said:
“We’re very grateful to all the representatives of our partner agencies for attending and discussing these challenges.
“We know our emergency services are involved in the most incredibly difficult work when incidents occur on the M5, and we know there are no easy answers when it comes to minimising the impacts closures can have on communities and local businesses.
“Working in partnership is key to finding ways to reduce the number of incidents and find ways to reduce their impact, it’s really positive that we have come away with this aim.”