Results in 2021

Every year we publish a comprehensive list of our activities and the results obtained. It’s an extensive list of various activities with mostly positive results. Looking back on 2021, we would like to highlight the next three issues:
    • The ‘Wake up Somerset Highways’ rally to Somerset County Hall and the presentation of an alarm clock, and 9 requests to the Cabinet member for transport (John Woodman). It generated extensive media coverage.
    • The Cycle and Walking map has been was updated and reprinted. We charge £1 per copy to cover the cost of the next edition. Over 70% of costs are covered so far.
    • The Wellington to Taunton (W2T) Cycle path. We have established and run a W2T Project Group. There was a protest ride on the A38 to Sheppy’s Cider Farm with support to Citizens UK / Wellington Wheelers.

For a full list of activities and results please read the complete summary »

Local Elections 2022 – Summary of pledges

Sign with text Polling Station and bicycle

On 5 May 2022 people will be voting to determine who controls the new Somerset Authority. The Somerset Authority will replace Somerset County Council and the 4 District Councils.

We encourage everyone who is interested in green and healthy transport to vote.

To help you decide who to vote for we have collected the track record and pledges of the competing parties.

A358 – Response from National Highways to our petition

In June 2019 we delivered our petition for proper cycle provisions as part of Highways England’s A358 scheme to National Highways regional office in Bristol. Thank you again for supporting this petition. We have finally got an official response from National Highways, which we received after officially complaining that they had not provided this.

Road sign showing A358 Taunton-Ilminster

We have put considerable time and effort in meetings with National Highways, and we feel that their response falls way short of expectations, given the current emphasis on active travel and climate/environmental issues.

Somerset County Council is in a strong position to influence National Highways. We have asked repeatedly to meet with them on this issue but no meeting has been offered. Taunton Deane’s MP Rebecca Pow has supported our campaign in the past.

Call for action

Please email the leader of Somerset CC David Fothergill and MP Rebecca Pow and ask them to use their influence to get a better outcome for active travel i.e., a continuous, direct and safe Ilminster-Taunton route, less severance of existing routes and an effective crossing at J25.

Read National Highways’ response »

Succesful Cycle Route Protest between Wellington and Taunton

On 20 March 2022, 250 cyclists rode the A38 in 2 peletons. The aim of the protest was to promote the need for a safe cycle route between Wellington and Taunton (W2T) to key decision makers.

We would like to thank everyone who supported the protest, whether as a marshall or participant. Thanks also to the police for their presence and helping to make the journey along A38 safe (on this one occasion). Congratulations to Citizens UK Somerset for leading on this. W2T is a key local campaign which they will be developing further.

Taunton Deane’s MP Rebecca Pow has launched a petition to install a cycleway between Wellington and Taunton.
You can see our short video with an impression of the Taunton leg of the protest on Youtube.

Two bicycles with a posts conveying the message about Welly to Taunton

 

Big turnout Wake Up Rally in Taunton

A clock is presented to Cllr John WoodmanCyclists and pedestrians from Somerset made their way to Taunton to participate in the Wake Up Rally on Wednesday. It was great to be part of something where so many people were passionate and authentic in working towards a shared vision.
Unfortunately, Somerset County Highways are still someway from understanding the vision.

The clock – a gift from TACC – was politely received by the County Highways political boss, John Woodman. He made some comments, but said absolutely nothing new and some of it was inaccurate. It reinforced our view that there is little drive and leadership for walking and cycling improvements.

He told us yet again that SCC have a 10 year plan (still unpublished). Yes we know – we did the leg work for it and it took them over 2 years to produce. He didn’t name a single walking and cycling scheme that they are working on. He did make the incredible claim that ‘cycling is at the heart of’ all their big expensive road schemes. We know that these have been designed to maximise car capacity with walking and cycling as addons that function badly. Clearly more training is needed. As is more pressure.

Watch the video impression of the rally (courtesy of Hits Radio Brand Networks) »

Background of the rally

Action to improve cycling needs to start now. Somerset County Council has to stop dragging its feet with warm words but little tangible progress. Design and maintenance of cycling infrastructure needs to improve.
Somerset County Council SLOW

TACC has tried to support the County Council in a variety of ways, putting our own time into this.

The Government is calling on Highway Authorities to enable active travel. Numerous polls show strong public support for better cycling provision. The pandemic showed the appetite for walking and cycling more, when the threat from car traffic is reduced. There is a climate emergency.

The County has funded four major road schemes in as many years in Taunton. We are struggling to think of any new free standing cycling routes in the same period (other than addons to road schemes).

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