NEW bypasses to the north and south of Bridgwater are part of a list of possible schemes designed to future-proof part of Somerset’s transport network.

Sedgemoor District Council is working on a transport investment strategy, laying out a list of schemes which will meet the district’s needs up to 2050.

A list of possible schemes which could be funded and implemented will be scrutinised by councillors in September once the work is complete.

An update on the project came before the council’s corporate scrutiny committee when it convened in Bridgwater on Tuesday afternoon (June 12).

The strategy is being based on growth and population estimates from central government, and is being funded by developer contributions from the Huntspill Energy Park – though the developer does not have any influence over the content of the report.

Sam Harper, the council’s principal development officer for infrastructure, said that the strategy would look at what was required beyond the current Local Plan, which runs until 2032.

It will cover not only new or improved roads, but also changes to bus and rail use and opportunities to reduce journey times through new technologies.

He said that the strategy would “look at all the challenges faced” across the whole district, including the delivery of future housing and employment.

A statement by Steer Davies Gleeve (which is working with the council to produce the strategy) said that the initial long-list of schemes “includes north and south bypass options for Bridgwater”.

They added that ten junctions across the whole of Sedgemoor will be “modelled” to see where improvements could be made.

Mr Harper said: “It is very much a blank canvas at the moment – it will be a very large spreadsheet, with a very long list and criteria which they will be scored against.

“We will be a step ahead of other areas by having this evidence-based document in place”.

Having this strategy enshrined in official policy will help the council to 'lever in' funding when details of new schemes come forward.

Once the long-list of possible schemes has been finalised, ward members will be able to have their say, and surveys will be sent out to every town and parish council in Sedgemoor to ensure that their needs are met.

Mr Harper said: “It is unlikely that the first workshop will be coming to members until September. It may be frustrating, but we want to get this right.

“We’re looking at 2032 for a starting point, so there’s no real rush.”

Councillor Brian Smedley, who chairs the scrutiny committee, said that Bridgwater Town Council should be kept closely informed about the shape of the strategy.

He said: “It is probably the area most affected by the lack of decent transport infrastructure in the area.”

Mr Harper said that he and his colleagues were keeping in contact with their counterparts in Bristol and North Somerset, to ensure that transport infrastructure in the northern parts of Sedgemoor could cope with further development from outside the district.

Councillor Alison Hamlin raised concerns about predicting population growth, stating: “What about people coming in from abroad? That’s unpredictable, isn’t it?”

Mr Harper admitted that some of the work was a case of 'finger in the air' in light of how far ahead they were having to plan.

But he added that the strategy would use all available population estimates, and that the finished document could be revised every five years to take account of changing trends.

An update on the final strategy is expected to come back before the council in the autumn.