New M5 junction 'not the answer' to deliver better links to Somerset's new gigafactory'

Building a new junction on the M5 is "not the answer" to delivering better transport links to Somerset's new 'gigafactory', a prominent transport campaigner has said. Agratas, which is part of the Tata group, confirmed in late-February that it would be building its new £4bn gigafactory at the Gravity site between Puriton and Woolavington near Bridgwater, creating up to 4,000 new jobs.

Somerset Council committed in early-March to spend up to £150m on delivering the infrastructure needed to unlock this new development, funded through central government grants and retention of business rates from the site. The full council has approved the Gravity locality investment plan, which includes numerous commitments on improving local transport, including a new junction on the M5 between Highbridge and Bridgwater.

But transport campaigner David Redgewell has called on the council to push for more investment in public transport as the site is delivered, including more local bus services and restoring the former freight rail link. Mr Redgewell, a member of the South West Transport Network group, made his comments at a special full council meeting which was held at Somerset County Cricket Club in Taunton on Tuesday afternoon (June 18).

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He said: "The freight line will need to be re-laid into the site, because most car parts in this country do travel by rail from factory to factory. "We're disappointed just one bus service has been highlighted on your report.

"We're talking 4,000 employees here - some of them will come from Weston-super-Mare, some of them from Taunton, some of them will come from Wells, Glastonbury and Street. If we're looking at the electrification of the bus fleet, there will need to be a depot and contracts in place with FirstBus, and there will also need to be work at Highbridge & Burnham and Bridgwater railway stations to ensure people can access the site.

"I wish this project well, but there is a lot of unanswered questions, which will need discussion with the transport secretary after the general election. It is more than a motorway junction - that is not the answer purely for logistics."

Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said that Mr Redgewell's concerns about bus services would be considered by the bus advisory board in the near-future. He added: "Detailed proposals on the access strategy will emerge as the workforce strategy develops and it becomes clearer where the workforce will live.

"Any public investment decisions regarding a new motorway junction and rail freight facilities are a matter for the Department for Transport and Network Rail, but we will continue to have in-depth discussion with them and the developer on these issues."

Of the £150m which the council has identified to deliver infrastructure for the Gravity site, £74m is ring-fenced for transport measures and active travel improvements.

The council has confirmed that any decisions regarding the cost or location of a new "junction 22A" would be "a matter for the DfT", since they would be leading the scheme. Officers also confirmed that government support for a new junction would not jeopardise either the planned upgrade to the Dunball roundabout at junction 23 (funded through the government's levelling up fund) or planned improvements to the Edithmead roundabout at junction 22.

A spokesman said: "These are two separate strategic highway network schemes which are the responsibility of the DfT. We’re not aware that the new junction proposal would create any new risks for existing schemes."

Council leader Bill Revans said: "Before us, we have a great victory for Somerset. It represents a truly transformational opportunity for the whole county, not just for the present but for many generations to come. It will benefit the whole county, from Frome to Porlock, from Cheddar to Chard.

"We're breathing new life into a brownfield site which once employed 2,000 people in its 20th-century heyday, and securing Somerset's place prominently in the net zero economy of this century." Councillor David Fothergill, leader of the opposition Conservative group, said the plan built on the hard work of the Tory-led Sedgemoor District Council up to its abolition in April 2023.

He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Somerset. We have to learn our lessons from Hinkley Point C, and one of those lessons is that we need to listen local people. We need to spend more time understanding what the impacts and pressures are. This has been a very long journey, and where we are today is just a step on their journey."

Councillor Leigh Redman, who leads the opposition Labour group, said the gigafactory was essential to securing well-paid local jobs and preventing swathes of young people from leaving Somerset after secondary school.

Mr Redman - who is standing in the Bridgwater constituency at the upcoming general election - said :"We have been supporting the project since its conception. The announcement of the battery factory, in the working heart of Somerset, we fully support and see it as a long-term benefit for every corner of our community.

"This investment at Gravity will create a significant number of long-term, high-value, well-paid jobs for local people to access, while at the same time helping continue the education opportunities that started with Hinkley Point C in partnership with Bridgwater & Taunton college and many other education bodies, giving local people of every age further opportunities to learn or re-skill. We lose too many young people who are forced to move away to learn, often resulting in them staying away to work."

Claire Sully, who is standing for the Liberal Democrats in the same seat, has called for the creation of a road safety and transport infrastructure forum to ensure that infrastructure improvements genuinely benefited local people. Ms Sully - who represents the Mendip South division on the council - said: "It is clear from my conversations with residents, local businesses and leaders of the transport industry that the transport network across Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge and our surrounding villages needs to be upgraded in order to meet the demands of growing investment.

"Whether it’s active travel, rail, the bus network or our roads, we need a coordinated approach to ensure we not only deliver accessible routes for business, but also meet the needs of our residents to avoid the fear of thundering lorries and increased traffic. Setting up the road safety and transport infrastructure forum will ensure this happens. This requires a vision, political will and engagement with local residents."

The locality investment plan was unanimously backed by the full council after around an hour's discussion. David Northey, a retired strategic planner with Network Rail, said that rail needed to play a pivotal role in both delivering the gigafactory and securing Bridgwater's economic future, building on and learning from the legacy of Hinkley Point C.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "To enable Bridgwater and surrounding communities to thrive, you need a transport system that works for everyone as well as giving people options. On rail, the town’s station and its ability to play an active role in travel needs has been over-looked to the detriment of Bridgwater.

"The town can be the gateway to the Somerset Levels, Glastonbury, Wells and the Quantock Hills as well as provide easy access to the home of Bridgwater and Taunton College.

"Improvements to the offering of train services, bus connectivity and redevelopment of the empty rooms could bring about a major transformation for the town."