Somerset to tackle 'repeated M5 closures' with 'multi-agency working group'

Somerset Council's Executive has backed plans to establish a multi-agency working group bringing together National Highways and the local Police to address motorway disruption, particularly M5 incident management and the impact closures have on local communities.

Somerset Council leader Cllr Bill Revans has also announced he will write to Government highlighting 'the issue of repeated M5 closures'.

The move comes after the 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 the complexity of managing major incidents. The stakeholders supported a 'collaborative approach to reducing disruption wherever possible,' the council said.

The planned working 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,' Somerset said.

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.

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.'