The leader of North Somerset Council, Mike Bell, has announced he will oppose his council’s proposal to reduce speed limits on a heavily trafficked and accident-prone stretch of the A370 in Weston-super-Mare. The plan aims to cut speed limits by 10 mph on a 3.8-mile section of the road used daily by approximately 35,800 vehicles.
Cabinet member for highways, Hugh Malyan, supports the measure, emphasizing the road’s troubling collision history. Drivers are reportedly more than ten times more likely to be involved in an accident on this particular stretch compared to others within North Somerset. Malyan argues that reducing the speed limit is essential to enhance safety, reduce incident numbers, and minimize environmental impact through better fuel efficiency.
However, Mike Bell disagrees, stating that speed is not the primary cause of collisions on the A370. Instead, he points to factors such as poor lane discipline, tailgating, distracted driving, and sudden braking. Bell believes that lowering the speed limit will not effectively address these underlying issues and will not yield the desired improvements in road safety.
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Despite representing different areas of Weston-super-Mare and coming from separate political parties—Malyan being Labour and Bell a Liberal Democrat—they are part of the council’s partnership administration, which also includes Greens, Independents, and Portishead Independents.
The council plans to advertise the proposed traffic regulation orders on its website starting July 16, inviting public consultation and feedback. Implementation of the new speed limits is expected to begin in August.