This is your opportunity to help shape some of the key elements of sustainable travel through Somerset and into North Somerset.

Somerset Council has launched an online engagement on proposals to make improvements on one of the key transport arteries along the A38 through Somerset & North Somerset to Bristol.

Somerset Council is working in partnership with North Somerset Council to secure Government funding for a series of improvement schemes on a stretch of the A38 which runs from the Edithmead Roundabout at Junction 22 of the M5 to the South Bristol Link.

Many junctions along the route are currently operating close to capacity leading to varying travel speeds, poor conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, unreliable journey times and congestion at peak times and road safety issues. 

The key aims of the project are:

• to better connect communities with improved walking and cycling provision
• to improve safety and journey times on the A38
• to provide better access to public transport and support the regional economy
• to enable housing delivery. 

Somerset Council and North Somerset Council are currently pulling together a full business case to take the proposals to the next stage.

Five key proposed schemes in Somerset Council area  

Edithmead Roundabout near J22 M5: Creation of a through-about with signalisation of all arms of the roundabout. The scheme will improve the Edithmead Roundabout (providing access to M5 Junction 22) to tackle the existing issues of congestion and queuing back onto the motorway. Redesign the roundabout to:  

Rooks Bridge: Safety scheme comprising mainly road markings.   

Carry out signing and lining enhancements to improve safety and traffic flow, but also to enhance visibility.  

Cross: Creation of a staggered junction design at Cross.   

Redesign Cross junction (A38 / A371 Cross Lane / Old Coach Road) to provide a staggered junction layout. Introduce dedicated left- and right-turn lanes on the A38 approaches to Old Coach Road and Cross Lane. This will improve safety and traffic flow at this location. 

Strawberry Line Crossing: An improved crossing of the A38 at Shute Shelve.   

Upgrade crossing where the traffic-free Strawberry Line route meets the A38 to improve safety, increase visibility, to support vulnerable road users, and encouraging walking and sustainable travel. 

Sustainable Travel: Improvements to bus stops and pedestrian/cycling facilities at various locations.

Click here to find out more about the five key areas highlighted for improvement.

Then Complete the Online Survey to have your say.

I’m delighted at a huge legislative win for Lib Dems, campaigners and community groups last week when the government amended its Great British Energy Bill to give a strong steer that community energy and community benefits from renewable energy projects will now be included in the intentions of the Bill. This success illustrates how the LibDems may bring about small but significant changes in Parliament, even though Labour has such a large majority of MPs, through persistence, and wise use of Parliamentary opportunities, but often this involves taking risks and compromise. It also reminds us of how long change may sometimes take because we would have loved to have had this legislation in place when the Wedmore Community Power Co-operative developed its solar farm in the constituency more than ten years ago. 

I’m so pleased for everyone who has campaigned and spoken up over many years using the full range of Parliamentary tactics including speeches and interjections in the Commons and Lords, short focussed debates in Westminster Hall, and in Committee sessions discussing the details of the Bill. 

Even the final process of achieving the amendment took some smart tactics and involved calculated risks.  Firstly, LibDem MPs agreed not to pursue an amendment in the House of Commons, following a private meeting with the Minister of Energy where he committed the government to change the Bill in the Lords. The LibDems decided that trusting him to do this was the best chance to get real change. It wasn't easy either in the Lords because the government voted down some initial amendments. However, following cross-party support, the Minister for Energy in the Lords approached the LibDem Spokesperson and asked him to co-sponsor the government's own amendment. We would have liked the amendment to go a bit further but agreed to compromise because the amendment that we achieved gives a strong steer in the Bill for what we have fought for for so long. 

It is great to see that through playing such a role, the LibDems, with their record numbers of MPs, may be a constructive opposition to Labour, pushing Labour to make changes to its legislation. Thank you again to all those who trusted me last July with their vote so that I could play a part in this. 

Huge legislative win for Lib Dems, campaigners and community groups this week 💛💪🏻🤩🤗 through a joint and coordinated effort in both Houses. 

Congratulations to everyone who has campaigned and spoken up for community energy and community benefits from renewable energy projects in the Chamber, WH Debates and in Bill Committee sessions over many years. 

As you know, following a one on one with the Minister for Energy following the Bill Committee, we decided not to push to a vote in the Chamber our amendment on community energy which had cross-party support - and agreed that we would trust the Minister who said the government would bring about change to the Bill in the Lords. The campaign groups were suspicious and lacked trust (understandably) but we decided that this was the best chance to get real change.  It wasn't easy either in the Lords because the government voted down the initial amendments. However, following cross-party support, the Minister for Energy in the Lords approached our Spokes Earl Russell and asked him to co-sponsor the government's own amendment (see attached)

We would have liked the amendment to go a bit further but, in reality, it gives a strong statutory steer and means that community energy and community benefits will now included in the front face of the Bill!!   

The role of Lib Dems in achieving this has been recognised publicly by government in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords - and by campaign groups.

Kind regards, 

Tessa

Today, Parliament heard the debate for the Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. 

This draft Bill has been a matter of great public concern for many months, and I received hundreds of messages, many drawing upon their experiences with loved ones, or deeply held personal convictions. I have read each one and I’d like to thank you for writing to me with your thoughts. 

I have attended more than a dozen briefings organised by specialists, faith leaders, lawyers, opponents and supporters of the draft Bill. I have listened to many suggestions about changing different elements and indeed whole sections of the draft Bill. I attended the whole of today’s debate. 

Having listened to everything I could, I voted yes at Second Reading. The votes in the House of Commons today were 330 for, and 275 against. 

My vote reflects my personal belief that on principle, there is good reason to enable the start of an essential process of extensive scrutiny of the Bill, with the votes which will be of greatest impact taking place in the spring and summer of 2025.

Whichever way I had chosen to vote, there would be constituents who are disappointed. So I think it is important to explain some of the reasons for my decision, emphasising what that means in practice. I will also set out the process, address some concerns, and highlight my priorities for the next stage.

As the attached diagram shows, there is no guarantee that the final version of this Bill will become law. The draft Bill goes forward for a period of intense scrutiny over several weeks before its final form is voted upon by the Lords, then MPs. 

In the Bill committee, MPs debate every word and line, offering amendments and voting on each suggested change before the Bill progresses to Report Stage, then Third Reading. 

There will then be a similar process in the House of Lords. Once that scrutiny is complete, then MPs will consider any amendments made by the House of Lords in the House of Commons and the Bill can ‘ping pong’ back and forth between the Houses of Commons and Lords and back again before the final wording is agreed and MPs vote. Only then, if it’s successful, will the Bill be given Royal Assent – and become law.

Kim Leadbeater MP, who introduced this Bill, has committed to ensuring MPs on the Bill Committee reflect a wide range of viewpoints, ensuring proper challenge. Government Departments will assess the impact and workability of the draft wording, no doubt leading to further amendments.

In this context, I believe the public interest is best served by exploring the issues thoroughly through this process, rather than closing down debate completely by voting against the Bill at this stage. 

In particular, I am mindful that hastening the end of life happens already, although the law is confused and exposes some to prosecution. We know those with the means can travel abroad, and there are many cases where, very sadly, patients act to take their own lives whilst they can, rather than continuing to live in pain. It seems right that we try to address these realities.  

I anticipate we must consider protecting medical professionals from the current inadequate legislation, patients from coercion - both for and against making a choice to end their lives when they want - and respect deeply held convictions amongst patients and health professionals.

I want to be sure that the protections and safeguards are robust, workable or can be made so during the Bill’s passage through Parliament.

As you would expect, I see today’s vote as only the start of this process, and in the coming months, anticipate using the time to engage in a more structured way across the constituency, to follow up on suggestions made in constituents’ correspondence, and continue to listen to those with professional expertise. 

To those who were concerned that time was too short for such an important debate, I would offer the following reassurance. 

A Private Member’s Bill was predicted at this stage in the new Parliament and a lot of thinking had already happened. The Health and Social Care Select Committee held an inquiry in 2023 - 2024 on Assisted Dying with the express intent of preparing evidence for a future debate. It received 68,000 responses from the public and 380 formal written responses.

The publication of the draft Bill on 11th November allowed a balance between time spent developing the detail of the Bill and providing opportunity for MPs to prepare for the debate. As I emphasise above, today’s vote is the start of this process, not a final decision.

The five hours allowed for debate today is consistent with the duration for many Second Reading debates. Indeed, on Tuesday the Tobacco and Vaping Bill, with several contentious clauses had 3.5 hours debate. 

Looking ahead, I will push hard for adequate time for the next stage, and engage with suggestions that constituents have made, especially around protections. For example, I want to explore how someone with a fundamental personal conviction against shortening their life (maybe because of a religious belief), could formalise this on the  record, so that it could not be over-turned through coercion or an Attorney acting contrary to this.

It goes without saying that my Lib Dem colleagues and I will continue to push for everyone to have access to the best health and social care at the end of their life, especially palliative and hospice care. It must not be that a person seeks to shorten their life purely because the State has failed in its responsibility to provide the best care possible. 

I hope that now you may have a better understand of the decision I made today, and especially that this is not the end of my engagement on a matter so important to so many of us. 

Thank you for sharing your perspectives and offering suggestions, often at such personal cost. I appreciate this greatly.

Kind regards,

Tessa