Cllr Ganesh Gudka Champions Local Improvements in Somerset's Transport Plan
Town Cllr Ganesh Gudka & the Lib Dems welcomed the strategic plan for Local Transport which has been produced by Somerset Council. The plan embraces sustainable, affordable and accessible transport for all as a central objective.
Access to the plan and the consultation exercise can be found at https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/active-travel/copy-of-local-transport-plan-2025/ and we encourage everyone to take a look and have their say on the plan.
In welcoming the plan as a whole Cllr. Ganesh Gudka suggested changes to the detail to reflect the specific needs of Burnham and Highbridge.
We strongly support the vision to “build a fairer, greener, resilient, flourishing and connected transport network”. The plan clearly prioritises travel on foot, by bike and using public transport which are ultimately the best options for our pockets, our health and our environment.
We agree that enabling a choice of forms of transport and connecting places with reliable public transport is critical to the county as is enabling active travel and safe and healthy access to our schools. The plan is also well balanced in recognising that private cars will still be an important mode of travel in a rural county so investment in EV charging infrastructure will support making these journeys cleaner.
In leading the town council debate on this plan Ganesh was keen to show support for the strategy whilst picking up points of detail relevant to our town.
He asked for:
- Recognition of Highbridge Station as a Mobility Hub where people should be able to easily switch between modes of transport. We are pleased that campaigning by our activists is already releasing some funding to improve signage to improve accessibility at the station.
- An understanding that young people and workers trying to access tertiary education and employment in Bridgwater, Taunton and Weston need for a reliable bus service. The recent positive changes in Somerset's Bus Service Improvement Plan addressed some of the concerns raised by the Bus User Group.
- A reminder that the Community Hospital is an important destination.
- That our Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which we have worked hard to get published, is explicitly inserted in the detailed action plan as it has been for other towns.
- Extension of EV charging infrastructure which is already planned for Oxford Street car park includes low cost overnight charging for residents living in terraced streets.
- More detail and genuine consultation about the intriguing ideas like "seasonal road space allocation" and the review of parking provisions in our town centres.
Conservative Town Cllr & Mayor Mike Facey and other councillors thanked Ganesh for his pro-active work on the plan and the Council agreed to submit his notes as a formal response to the consultation.