COULD Bridgwater be set to benefit from two major transport schemes?

Ambitious plans to improve infrastructure and improve transport links to Bridgwater have been put on the agenda this week.

Dale Edwards, chairman of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, and Ian Liddell-Grainger MP are calling for the Somerset area of the M5 to become a 'smart motorway' which they say could improve journey times and decrease the number of accidents.

Meanwhile a separate motion will be put before Sedgemoor District Council on Wednesday calling for an increase in high-speed rail connections and an improved rail service through the 'Sedgemoor Rail Corridor'.

Dale Edwards said: "Over the last year, like many drivers in this part of the country, I have been caught up in incidents on the M5 from Gloucester to Exeter in what feels like increasing regularity.

"These incidents have resulted in the M5 being either completely closed or severely congested with one or more lanes blocked. With sadness, some have resulted in loss of life or life-changing injuries, which is devastating for the loved ones of those involved."

Mr Edwards said that when there are incidents on the M5, holidays are spoiled, meetings cancelled and business opportunities lost, having a negative economic impact on the region.

Smart motorways involves hardening the hard shoulder so that it becomes an extra lane, and technology is used to better manage the traffic.

The M42 became a smart motorway and journey reliability has improved 22 per cent while personal injury accidents have gone down by more than 50 per cent.

"I firmly believe that the case for additional smart motorway sections of the M5 should be considered as an increasing priority for Highways England and the government," Mr Edwards said.

"This would not only benefit the Somerset economy but also, more importantly, would save lives.

"Whilst there would be a cost to upgrade it, a significant amount of infrastructure is already in place. It does not need to be prohibitive and, when you take into account the human and economic cost, the payback is likely to be sooner rather than later."

Mr Liddell-Grainger said it would provide a boost for Somerset, Devon and Cornwall economies and he believes the government should prioritise this project ahead of upgrading the A303 and A358.

"I have been pushing for this for a long time, and I think it makes a lot of sense. Just this week it was confirmed that the longest queue last year was on our stretch of the M5 following a lorry crash. We have been breaking records for all the wrong reasons," he said.

Elsewhere Sedgemoor District Council will also be discussing a motion put forward by Cllrs Mick Lerry and Brian Smedley to lobby for improved rail services for Bridgwater.

Cllr Lerry said: "Sedgemoor District Council is now involved in developing a Transport Strategy to support the Local Plan.

"Due to the proposed enhancement of the Bridgwater Railway Station and the development of Hinkley C, along with economic growth, housing, health and education, now is an appropriate time to lobby for an increase in high-speed train connections and an improved rail service through the 'Sedgemoor Rail Corridor' to Bristol, where commuters can link with other high-speed rail services," he said.

Cllr Lerry wants the district council to build an evidence portfolio with Somerset County Council, MPs and LEP and other partners, to lobby CrossCountry Trains to improve the high-speed rail service ahead of its 2019 franchise renewal, to work with Great West Railway to seek service changes beneficial to Sedgemoor and to make representations to the Department of Transport to support rail service improvements for Sedgemoor.