FRESH calls have been made to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries in the wake of a series of fatal collisions which have left the community reeling.

The Green Party at Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) has called for action in implementing a ‘Vision Zero’ approach in the area in order to significantly improve safety by 2030.

A man was killed in a collision on the A370 in early November, while four people were also left injured in a recent crash on the A367 in Radstock.

The A361 has also seen a number of collisions prompting calls improved safety measures this year. A three-vehicle collision which killed two women near Frome in May was the fourth fatal crash on the road within a ten month period.

The road saw another fatality a couple months later after a motorcyclist collided with a lorry on a stretch of the A361, near Frome in August. This prompted interim safety measures being put in place at the junction of the collision

The Greens expected Vision Zero, a strategy aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe mobility for all, would be on the agenda at the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday, November 14. It was absorbed within a cabinet member update, an approach that the Greens described as “inadequate”.

B&NES initially tabled a motion for the implementation of Vision Zero last year, passing unanimously.

The motion outlined several key steps including:

Green Councillor Saskia Heijltjes, who proposed the motion, said: “We are disappointed by the lack of transparency and engagement around Vision Zero.

“The motion was passed a year ago, and it stated that the administration would be reporting back to the relevant scrutiny panel in 12 months. Public safety is at stake, and we need to be sure that real action is being taken.”

Councillor Sam Ross (Clutton and Farmborough) also highlighted the A37 when discussing fatalities on A-roads. A crash last month led to a road closure in both direction, while a 17-year-old boy died in a collision on the road near Clutton last year.

Councillor Ross said: "Fatalities on A roads, particularly the A37, remain a serious concern. It is vital to address collision black spots by listening to local residents and taking decisive action. Reducing speeds in areas outside main villages, where clusters of houses and junctions create heightened risks, is essential. Equally important is increasing the number of crossings through villages to improve safety.”

The Greens are now calling for a dedicated Vision Zero update for the next meeting in either January or March 2025.

Green leader Councillor Joanna Wright, concluded: “Vision Zero is not just a bold goal, it’s a necessary one. Every day of delay puts more lives at risk. We need immediate, decisive action to make our streets safer for all.”