|
Over the next few weeks as the festive season gets underway, Avon and Somerset Police will be out in force conducting proactive roadside checks and talking to motorists about the dangers of drink and drug driving.
The Christmas roads policing operation, which will run throughout the month of December, will use community intelligence to target drivers potentially under the influence of drink or drugs. Throughout December police are urging the public to let them know if they suspect someone may be driving while intoxicated.
Information received from the public will then be used in conjunction with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV data to alert officers to the whereabouts of potential offenders, enabling them to take swift action.
Data from Crimestoppers UK suggests that the public are becoming more inclined to report drink and drug drivers. The national charity, which allows people to report crime 100% anonymously, received more than 34,000 reports between January and September this year about people who regularly drive under the influence of drink and drugs – a 25% increase on the previous year. In several cases, this information has directly led to an arrest.
Reports of drink/drug drivers can be made online via Avon and Somerset Police's Report drink and drug driving webpage or by calling 101. Alternatively reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
If someone is currently driving under the influence of drink or drugs, always call 999.
A proactive roads policing day of action took place in Frome last month with the aim of targeting dangerous drivers and engaging the public in conversations about road safety.
Operation Toro, which took place on Tuesday 21 November as part of Road Safety Week, was organised in response to public concern following a number of serious collisions in the Frome area in recent months.
In the town centre, officers from the Road Safety, Neighbourhood and Mounted teams provided a visible and reassuring presence, engaging with members of the local community to provide road safety advice. A crushed vehicle was on display to serve as a poignant reminder of the potential consequences of driving uninsured or without a valid licence.
The operation was supported by police speed enforcement units and Community SpeedWatch volunteers who were stationed on key routes around the town to detect motorists travelling at unsafe speeds.
Roads Policing officers were also patrolling the area with the support of the drone team, utilising Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) to identify potential traffic offences such as uninsured driving.
Results:
- 204 speed detections, with a top speed recorded of 55mph in a 30mph limit
- Community SpeedWatch volunteers monitored thousands of motorists travelling through the town, of which 46 will be sent a warning letter along with advice to help change their driving behaviour
- Five uninsured vehicles were seized
- One fixed penalty notice was issued for use of a mobile phone at the wheel
- Three drivers were identified not wearing a seatbelt
- One driver was arrested and later charged with drink driving after a roadside breath test revealed them to be over the legal alcohol limit
Officers also stopped a vehicle linked to a reported assault and seized an offensive weapon.
Flooded roads in South Petherton
The start of this month, our Highways teams were again called on to respond to hundreds of incidents across the county following heavy rain and flooding.
The latest weather event followed flooding of roads across the county during November. This time teams were even busier, with more than 500 incidents being logged. A significant number of major roads had to be closed due to flooding and there were many minor road closures, as rain swept through the county.
The situation was compounded by drivers attempting to cross flood water and getting stuck, causing further problems for emergency services in the process.
More than 20 schools took the decision to close as a result of the bad weather and several libraries closed early.
At various stages, several major roads needed to be closed due to flooding: the A356 between the A303 and Crewkerne, the A358 at Donyatt, the B3227 at Norton Fitzwarren, A361 Greinton and B3168 Puckington/Curry Rivel.
Jetting contractors were redeployed from planned works to respond to flood-related incidents.
You can check for the latest updates @TravelSomerset on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
We'll continue to work with partner agencies to monitor the situation and further rain forecast for later in the month, along with strong winds.
The public is asked to monitor Environment Agency flood warnings and alerts, taking precautionary steps where needed. For the latest information please visit GOV.UK's Check for flooding in England webpage.
Drivers are reminded to never drive through floodwater.
Road issues can be logged via our Report a problem on the road webpage.
North Town Bridge, Taunton
We're carrying out essential repairs to a Taunton landmark in the new year.
The Grade II listed Town Bridge carries the A3027 over the River Tone in the centre of Taunton and for a number of years has been showing signs of wear and tear.
Engineering reports revealed the need for extensive refurbishing works to the bridge structure, including concrete repairs, parapet repairs, new joints, waterproofing and painting of the steelwork and ornate cast iron parapets. The painting will ensure the steel and iron elements of the bridge are protected for another 30 to 40 years.
Funding has been ring-fenced for what is an essential structural repair programme and a team from contractor Walters UK will be starting work on the bridge in the new year. It's expected the work will take 9 months to complete. The road will be open to two-way traffic throughout virtually all of the project.
There may need to be some evening closures in the latter stages.
Road issues can be logged via our Report a problem on the road webpage.
For updates on projects, travel and transport news and live traffic updates follow @TravelSomerset on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
Willow Man sculpture off Junction 23 of the M5
Created by artist Serena De la Hay and unveiled in 2000, the once iconic Willow Man sculpture has received a funding boost from National Highways, the company responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads.
Close to Bridgwater, Junction 23 on the M5, Willow Man has deteriorated in recent years and is now barely recognisable.
The sculpture was commissioned by South West Arts to mark the millennium and celebrates the role of willow in the ecology and craft tradition of the Somerset Levels.
We've been granted £35,000 of funding from National Highways’ Designated Funding programme for an initial feasibility looking at the possibility of repairing/enhancing and relocating the Willow Man.
The funding will cover a range of activities including engagement, initial designs and costings, artists impressions, as well as searches and surveys covering land ownership and topography to identify potential sites.
We're asking you for your views and launching an online engagement page where you can have your say.
We'll also be liaising with local parish councils and other key stakeholders over the coming weeks to gather their views.
To have your say, take our survey.
An essential bus service linking Wells to Weston-super-Mare will run again in the new year thanks to our partnership with North Somerset Council.
The 126 service between Wells and Weston-super-Mare was discontinued in October 2022 due to low passenger numbers. Operator First West of England will run the service from Tuesday 2 January after winning a tendering process.
The route will be jointly subsidised and will operate Monday to Saturday, approximately every two hours. The funding is being split 50/50 between the authorities.
The service is funded using ring-fenced Government money from the Councils’ Bus Service Improvement Plans.
We have been subsidising a shorter 126 service between Wells and Axbridge since September 2022, operated by Libra Travel – the new service will replace this.
As well as continuing to serve the communities along the route, the new, jointly funded 126 service connects Wells to Weston-Super-Mare via Winscombe, Sandford Banwell, Hutton, and Weston Hospital. It will provide journeys timed for schools and college students, including Strode College connections at Wells, Wells Blue School, and Weston College.
In North Somerset, the service 10 between Hutton, Hospital and Town Centre will be re-purposed to a new 9 service serving Worlebury. The 126 service will provide more journeys over a longer portion of the day for Hutton and Uphill.
The timetable and route map for the new services will be available later this month at travelwest.info.
 We are now well into the party season and to help people have a hassle-free night Somerset Council is encouraging residents to ‘Bus It.’
Using ring-fenced Government funding, we're subsiding evening services which connect Taunton with Minehead, Bridgwater, Wellington, and Chard after 8pm. Most services are running a last bus from Taunton up to 11pm.
Image courtesy of Geof Sheppard
Peninsula Transport, the Sub-National Transport Body for Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth, and Torbay, has published two important new strategies. These plans outline how rail and alternative fuels for road freight will boost the region’s future economic growth while helping to meet climate goals.
The rail strategy comes at a time of massive change on the South West’s railways, with passengers making new travel choices following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Increases in home and remote working have led to a drop in commuting by train. The Rail Strategy highlights the vital role the peninsula’s railways will play in decarbonising the transport network.
During the Christmas period Somerset Council are backing a call by emergency services by asking people to give plenty of thought to the needs of the emergency services when they park, remembering to ensure that much larger vehicles can get through, especially in narrow streets.
Most streets were not originally designed for the number of cars that residents wish or need to park in them, but during this time of festivities, when visiting friends and loved ones, please bear in mind that emergency vehicles such as fire engines, and ambulances may need unexpected access.
Bad parking can delay fire engines and emergency vehicles from reaching serious incidents in your area, and if this is the case, the lives of your families, friends and neighbours would be put at risk.
|
|
