Communication Plan

Toneway Corridor Improvements

Lead Officer: Project Manager (TBC)

Introduction

The Toneway Corridor, the junctions at Creech Castle, Obridge and Heron Gate, provides the key connection between the A38, the M5 (Junction 25) and Town Centre. The proposed scheme involves: increased lanes on all approaches; removal of right turn from A358 West into Bridgwater Road South; new at grade pedestrian and cycle crossings; and new cycle access bridge on Bridgwater Road North.

The scheme builds upon improvements at J25 and will deliver improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists; better manage peak hour traffic; junction signals that will operate more efficiently enabling more traffic through at each cycle; improved access to Taunton and the M5; and benefit the economy of Taunton by providing space for traffic growth.

The total cost of the project is £7.96 million. From the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Growth Deal funding a total of £5.57 is hoped to be secured and £2.39m development contributions.

KEY MESSAGES:

We are increasing capacity along a key corridor and junction to allow for future growth and development.

We are delivering cycling and pedestrian improvements that will reduce severance in the local area

The improvements are essential to ensure that the road network can cope with future increased traffic volumes

This is significant investment in Taunton and should improve journey times and ease congestion along the route.

Stakeholders Tools

Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Parish/Community Meetings Pat Flaherty (Chief Exec County Council) MP briefing Rebecca Pow (MP for Taunton) SCC Key Cabinet Members briefings Cllr David Fothergill (SCC Council Leader, Monkton & North Curry) SCC, TDBC, Town, Parish Councillor briefings Cllr John Thorne (Blackdown and Neroche) SCC and TDBC internal e-mail Cllr Simon Coles (Taunton East) SCC Comms Team Cllr Hazel Prior-Sankey (Taunton South) County Gazette features/press releases/exclusives Cllr Guiseppe Fraschini (Taunton North) Social media Cllr James Hunt (Upper Tone)? Regular community and media updates Cllr John Woodman (Cabinet Highways and Transport) Monthly briefings to appropriate parties Cllr John Williams, TDBC Adhoc briefings to parties where needed Brendan Cleere, TDBC SCC Call centre briefing Borough Council (TDBC) Officers and Executive Letter drop to local affected residents and businesses TDBC Members SCC Website including general arrangement drawings etc Affected Parish/Town Councils 3D images on website Taunton Chamber of Commerce VMS signs (tbc) Key businesses Your Somerset Highways England Our Somerset Environment Agency Emergency Services Visit Somerset Bus and Taxi Companies (including Park & Ride)

Date/Freq Action Audience Tool Responsibility Complete

May 2018 Non Key Decision Cllrs & Officers Non Key Decision MODJ to submit Business paper Case June 2018 Submit Business LTP Final Business SM Case Case & Associated papers June 2018 Non Key Decision Cllrs & Officers Non Key Decision MODJ to start paper procurement process September 2018 Consultation All Stakeholders Online consultation All and public events September 2018 Procurement Suppliers SCC procurement C&P process April 2019 Key Decision to Cllrs & Officers Key decision paper MODJ/JW award contract July/August 2018 Establish key Key affected TDBC business list businesses July 2018 Draft web copy All PE ready July 2018 Draft press release Local media PE written July 2018 Letter written Local affected Letter PE businesses and residents July 2018 Draft reactive Cllrs Briefing sheet PM/PE briefing doc written fro Cllrs F and W July 2018 Q & A briefing Cllrs and include on Q&A PM/PE written website Early 2019 3D drawing created All Drawing PM Early 2019 Filming explanatory PE video (if required) TBC Send copy to SCC Staff Our Somerset PE Lauren for Your Somerset November 2018 Brief local MP ILG TDBC November 2018 Copy and plans All Web PE published on SCC website November 2018 Exclusive press Gazette Press PE release/Feature release/drawings sent November 2018 Brief all SCC local Cllrs and Officers Email PM members and officers November 2018 Brief all TDBC Cllrs and Officers Email PM member and officers including major programmes team. November 2018 Letter drop Key affected Letter PM residents and businesses November 2018 Inform tourism TDBC PE contacts November 2018 Brief all others Chamber, Email PM/PE Somerset Direct, emergency services, bus and taxi services, environment agency, Visit Somerset etc November 2018 Press release sent Local media Press release PE to all others November 2018 Send copy to TDBC TDBC staff TDBC internal new PE internal news letter letter Fortnightly Standard fortnightly Local Cllrs, Fortnightly updates PE update on scheme residents and businesses 1 monthly Community and Community and Press release and PE media updates media community updates 1 monthly Social media Follower on FB and Social Media PE updates with Twitter images of works progressing Adhoc updates Update adhoc as Community/general Social media and PE necessary eg traffic public, media email management changing Funding body Progress update to LEP Verbal at meetings SM/MODJ/PM updates LEP via LTB or written if Officers group requested in meetings advance 2 weeks before and VMS sign (tbc) General public VMS during During works Highways England General public Highways England Signs on M5/A38 VMS (delay warning message when appropriate) May 2019 Work Starts

Key:

MODJ – Mike O’Dowd-Jones

SM – Sunita Mills

PM – Project Manager

C&P – Commercial and Procurement

PE – Peter Elliot

JW – John Woodman