At the Local Area Network meeting this week, Somerset Highways gave an update on the site of the recent coach crash on the A396. The latest news is that the side of the road is too severely damaged to simply install a rail and bollards. The road will require engineering works to support a barrier, and this is currently being explored by their engineers. The solution will take some time and the traffic lights and 20mph restriction will remain in situ until the road is fully repaired.
The unreliability of the traffic lights at the site was brought up by Timberscombe Parish Council representatives. The Highways representative explained that they had to follow specific guidelines because of the position and slope of the road. This included a longer than usual delay on red to allow for slow, heavy vehicles to move uphill from stationary. So if you seem to have to wait for a long time on red, please be patient.
The position of the site means that battery-operated lights have to be used. These are more likely to break down. If you come across non-functioning lights please report them immediately to the Police or to Somerset Highways (during working hours) via their website page: Report a problem on the roads.
The Highways representative stated that one of the reasons the traffic lights are switching off was due to drivers coming through the lights just after they had turned red, tailgating the vehicle in front. If the traffic lights sense traffic still coming through the lights on red, they register a problem and turn off to do a reset.
Please do not be tempted to pass through the lights on red. You may be the cause of the next accident.
Lesley Webb
Clerk, Timberscombe Parish Council
Wootton Courtenay 