With winter fast approaching, here is a reminder of the operational procedure for use of the emergency road closure gates if required during the coming months.
Following severe flooding on the Somerset Levels in 2014, emergency road closure gates were installed at eight locations to help stop vehicles potentially getting stuck in flood waters.
The gates are kept locked open at all times and will only be locked shut by Somerset County Council or the emergency services when water levels are rising and the road is impassable or at risk of becoming impassable.
They will only be closed during daylight hours. This means gates may be shut before a road becomes flooded if there is a risk it will become flooded overnight.
Access
If you are concerned about rising water levels and believe the gates need to be closed, please contact us by calling 0300 123 2224 or email [email protected] In an emergency situation, always dial 999. To minimise the risk of accidental or deliberate abuse, the gates will be kept locked open using a different combination.
Please contact us if you believe you have a need to be provided with the padlock code in order to open the gates.
Operation
In the event that the gates need to be closed, Somerset County Council will aim to keep you up to date in a number of ways.
Email – we will send an email once the gates have closed and again when they reopen. You can email [email protected] and request to have your email address added to our mailing list.
Twitter – we will provide updates via @TravelSomerset
Online – we will update www.travelsomerset.co.uk/roadclosuregates
For further information and FAQs, or to check the current status of the gates, please visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk/roadclosuregates.