On May 6, a crucial road safety forum was convened at the Bath and West Showground to address ongoing challenges along the A371. Organised by Councillor Claire Sully, the event brought together councillors, MPs, police officials, highways representatives, community leaders, and local businesses to collaborate on enhancing road safety.
Councillor Sully shared recent progress in her division, highlighting the introduction of speed restrictions, improved signage, and targeted safety interventions on the A371. These measures, developed through strong community engagement and guided by expertise from Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police, aim to reduce accidents and save lives. The event was supported by Ansford Parish Council and hosted by Carol Paris, CEO of Bath and West, at the Rural Enterprise Centre.
Participants discussed key strategies, including ongoing speed monitoring, anti-skid surfacing, and the implementation of additional speed limits. Councillor Sully also stressed the importance of greater transparency and data sharing with the public, alongside the development of a regional road safety strategy that builds on local initiatives.
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In a compelling contribution, Richard Clothier of Wyke Farm shared how his family business is leading sustainability efforts in the region by adopting electric vehicles, optimising traffic routing, and reducing the environmental footprint of their operations. His approach exemplifies how collaboration between businesses, communities, and authorities can produce innovative solutions that ease congestion and enhance safety.
Debra Henderson, Chair of Ansford Parish Council, highlighted community-driven successes such as the installation of a zebra crossing near Ansford Academy, upgraded street lighting, and ongoing partnerships aimed at improving local safety conditions.
Avon and Somerset Police’s Road Safety Officer outlined major factors contributing to serious crashes, including speeding, failure to wear seatbelts, driver distractions (especially mobile phone use), drink and drug driving, and careless behaviour. He also emphasised how emerging technologies like dash cameras and AI-powered enforcement are transforming efforts to deter risky behaviours. The role of Community SpeedWatch schemes was underlined as a vital tool empowering residents to take an active role in monitoring and promoting safer driving.
The forum also examined concerns about rising traffic volumes due to regional population growth—expected to increase by 9.7 million nationally over the next 25 years—leading to more vehicles, heavy goods traffic, and development pressures. Organisers reiterated the need for coordinated traffic management, ongoing road maintenance, safe pedestrian crossings, and integrated regional planning to meet these challenges sustainably.
MP Anna Sabine expressed her gratitude for the collective commitment shown, emphasising that protecting lives on the roads is a shared responsibility requiring ongoing collaboration among all stakeholders.