Cllr Simon Nicholls calls for changes to M5 junction 25 after crash

Cllr Simon Nicholls, representing Comeytrowe for Taunton Deane Borough Council, first voiced his frustration after a crash in 2016 involving a lorry and two vans.

His second call for action comes as two people died in a motorway crash on Thursday, September 13, near junction 25, during the morning rush hour.

Emergency services were called to the southbound carriageway after a HGV collided with a car queueing to exit at J25 at 8.30am in Taunton.

The crash then impacted on six other vehicles queueing in front waiting to exit into the town.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: The scene on the M5 on September 13

A man in his 50s, who was a passenger in the car in front of the HGV, sadly died at the scene, and the driver, a woman in her 40s, sustained serious injuries and is in hospital.

A woman in her 40s, the driver of another vehicle in front, also died at the scene. A female passenger, in her 20s, was seriously injured.

Three other motorists, two women, one aged in her 50s and the other in her 20s, and a teenage boy, received hospital treatment for minor injuries.

Following on from the tragic crash, Cllr Nicholls has been left wondering why no action has been taken to make the junction safer.

He said: “With horror, but unfortunately not with surprise, I witnessed the results of last week’s tragic events close to Taunton’s M5 slip road.

“Those who were part of the initial rescue team are known to me personally.

“A couple of years ago, I expressed my concerns as a local councillor that the excessive queuing at junction 25 during the morning commute was dangerous and required safety mitigation.

“As a regular motorist using this junction during the morning commute, I am well aware how difficult it is to exit this junction safely.

“I’m bitterly disappointed that relevant stakeholders have not explored making this junction safer.”

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Cllr Nicholls wants to see changes to the carriageway, including adding extra signage.

He also urges authorities to consider utilising the hard shoulder to ‘alleviate’ traffic at busy times of day, or allowing the use of the nearby bus lane.

He added: “I understand implementing such measures requires planning,and indeed other measures may well exist, but have they been explored?

“It is not acceptable to allow queuing to become such a regular feature on a motorway slip road in this way.

“I understand an investigation will now take its course. However I am in no doubt the queuing that takes place is, if not partly, responsible, and without doubt exacerbates the problem.”

Cllr Nicholls was part of the emergency response team that reacted to the tragic incident in 2011, which resulted in the seven people losing their lives.

“In 2011 I attended Taunton’s tragic M5 collision, when seven people died and dozens were injured.

“I was a member of the initial rescue team.

“That night is firmly embedded into my memory, as I’m sure it is for colleagues.

“Regrettably we now see another tragic event on our stretch of the M5.

“More families, more loved ones, more rescue personnel all affected.

“This junction can be made safer. What are we waiting for?”

The local authority says plans to improve the junction are already underway and work is expected to start next spring.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said: “We are always very sorry to hear about any tragic incident on roads in Somerset and our thoughts are with those involved.

“At this stage it would not be appropriate to speculate about what may have happened, but we will work with the emergency services and Highways England, who are responsible for the M5, to support their investigations.

“Our plans to upgrade Junction 25 to improve journey times, ease congestion and unlock land for employment are progressing well and the scheme is currently out to tender.

“We expect work to start in spring 2019 and take around two years to complete.”