A Somerset councillor has openly admitted to blocking a local road using his tractor and trailer during a recent extended closure of the M5 motorway. The closure, which lasted several hours, compounded ongoing traffic issues that have plagued the area for the past two years.
The M5 in Somerset has experienced repeated long shutdowns, causing severe congestion and frustration among motorists. Somerset Council leader Bill Revans, whose North Petherton division includes junction 24 of the motorway, has formally raised concerns with Avon & Somerset Constabulary and National Highways, emphasizing the significant impact these closures have on local residents and businesses.
Councillor Alan Bradford, representing the same North Petherton division as a Conservative councillor, admitted to intentionally blocking a key route into a nearby village to protect his community during one such closure. He shared his actions at the inaugural meeting of the council’s climate, environment, and place scrutiny committee held in Taunton on June 4. At the meeting, he also drew a vivid comparison of the county’s road network to a “coat of many colours,” highlighting its complexity.
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Bradford explained the mounting frustration caused by the detours and heavy vehicles forced through villages like Broomfield, North Petherton, North Newton, and Burrowbridge during closures. These vehicles, often following GPS directions, traverse small roads, leading to damage and disruption.
Describing the incident, Bradford said, “I even got into trouble because I blocked a road with my tractor and trailer – and within eight minutes, two patrol cars arrived. I was doing what I thought was right. The M5 closure lasted six hours; I held my ground for an hour and a half before they threatened to arrest me. That’s when I decided to stop. They can lock me up – that won’t stop me talking.”
After the meeting, Bradford confirmed that the road he blocked was Moon Lane, connecting North Newton with the A38 between North Petherton and Monkton Heathfield. No further police action has been taken against him.
The committee does not expect to delve deeply into the management of M5 closures until a meeting planned for late November. Ahead of that, Councillor Andy Dingwall, whose division includes a large stretch of the motorway, called for updates on the progress of escalated concerns and engagement with National Highways.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for highways and transport, noted ongoing conversations with National Highways and the police but acknowledged challenges in coordinating joint meetings, describing the issue as “thorny.” He pointed out that National Highways participates in scrutiny meetings elsewhere, but scheduling difficulties have hampered joint discussions in Somerset.
Wilkins also expressed the intention to scrutinize both the safety of the road and the frequency and duration of closures, citing a particularly troublesome week in which the motorway was closed almost daily over a ten-day span.
Committee Chair Councillor Gwilym Wren acknowledged the difficulties in arranging joint sessions with National Highways and the police, stating, “If we are struggling to schedule them on the same day, at some point we are going to have to bite the bullet and do them individually.”