Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to (a) increase access to and (b) otherwise improve bus routes in rural areas.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government knows that Britain needs a modern transport network to help kickstart economic growth. Good local bus services are an essential part of prosperous and sustainable communities. As announced in the King’s Speech on 17 July 2024, the government will introduce a Buses Bill later this session. This will put the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, ensuring networks meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including in rural areas.
The Bill will increase powers available to local leaders to choose the model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, high-quality partnerships with private operators or local authority ownership. The Department is currently working to consider and determine the exact scope of the Buses Bill.
We also plan to empower local transport authorities through reforming bus funding. By giving local leaders more control and flexibility over bus funding so they can plan ahead to deliver their local transport priorities. The Department will work closely with local leaders and bus operators to deliver on the government’s ambitions.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps National Highways takes with other road agencies to help ensure there is minimal disruption when there are roadworks.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways work in collaboration with Local Highway Authorities (LHA) to minimise disruption to motorists during roadworks, this includes seeking agreement from LHAs for suitable diversion routes.
For longer-term works, National Highways engage with LHAs as well as other key parties to ensure that stakeholders directly affected by roadworks are consulted and their views considered in plans, and if necessary, diversion routes revised.
During major closures, National Highways’ National Traffic Operations Centre will use its network of electronic roadside variable message signs (VMS) to tell motorists of any adverse impact. Using this strategic information signing, National Highways will endeavour to keep traffic upon its own network so as not to overwhelm local roads.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support people not eligible for the Cycle to Work Scheme to buy a bicycle.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware that many people are unable to access the Cycle to Work scheme, including the self-employed and those who are retired, on low incomes, or not in employment. The Department will continue to consider ways of addressing this as part of its future plans for active travel.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle road traffic accidents in rural areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government and will support our health mission. Since the general election, the Department has begun work on a new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing graduated driving licences.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government. We are committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade. We will set out next steps on this in due course.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on minimising disruption to local residents and businesses during the closure of the A36 at Limpley Stoke.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The scheme is to repair a geotechnical fault and stabilise the embankment by the A36 and as such is a business as usual safety related scheme led by National Highways. National Highways has engaged with local businesses, residents residing within the limits of the closure, Bath and North-East Somerset Council, Wiltshire Council and is currently speaking with Parish Councils.
The scheme will produce a stable road with reduced risk of a more extended closure for a future failure. Work will commence from 12th August 2024 and last until Spring 2025. Extensive signage will be erected from Bath and the south advising of the closure and diversion routes.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of safety measures in place for the A361 around Frome.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Somerset Council are the relevant highways authority for the A361 around Frome and are responsible for any assessments on road safety. However, I am aware that Somerset’s Road Safety Team have been active in engaging with the community and are working with the Police over further road safety engagement and enforcement plans for later this year. I understand they are also undertaking a reassessment of traffic engineering measures at certain locations to see if any measures might help to reduce the likelihood of collisions occurring.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average waiting time and (b) longest waiting time for driving tests in Somerset was in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, whilst upholding road safety standards.
As of 15 July 2024, there were 531,704 car practical driving tests booked, and 91,306 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window. The table below shows the average waiting time by year for a driving test at each driving test centre in Somerset.
Waiting time (weeks) | Weston-Super-Mare | Yeovil | Taunton |
2014/15 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
2015/16 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
2016/17 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
2017/18 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
2018/19 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
2019/20* | 6.7 | 7.7 | 6 |
2020/21 | 9.4 | 12.1 | 10.8 |
2021/22 | 9.1 | 15.8 | 16.7 |
2022/23 | 16.2 | 16.6 | 16.8 |
2023/24 | 20.5 | 20.6 | 16.3 |
As of June 2024 | 19.3 | 18.8 | 17.1 |
*In 2020, the DVSA extended the booking window for customers, allowing them to book a driving test up to 24 weeks in advance. The 24-week booking window is still in place.