As it happened: West of England on Friday, 4 August 2017

Summary

News, sport, travel and weather updates for the West of England on Friday, 4 August 2017

Live Reporting

M5 northbound: Warning of four-hour delays between North Petherton and Clevedonpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Highways England
Highways England is warning of four-hour delays on the M5 between junctions 24 and 20 northbound.
It follows an earlier accident and diesel spill which has caused traffic chaos in the area.
BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Somerset will be keeping you up to date with the ongoing problems on the M5 and the surrounding affected roads through until 10pm this evening.
And of course you can keep up with the latest travel news here.
A370 between Bristol and Weston 'at a standstill'published at 16:45 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Driverless cars showcased in Bristolpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Westfield
Image caption,
The GATEway driverless pod is built by Westfield Sportscars Ltd
The latest driverless vehicle technology will be on show in Bristol over the weekend.
Organised by Bristol City Council and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the showcase event will take place at the At-Bristol Science Centre in Millennium Square from today until Sunday.
Three driverless cars - the GATEway pod (above), Venturer Wildcat car (below) and a modified Renault Twizy quadricycle will all be on display.
Quote Message
We’re sure that the GATEway pod, Pepper and the modified Renault Twizy will all appeal to our usual visitors as well as new ones. We can’t wait to see how the world of driverless cars will change transport in Bristol and further afield.
Phil Winfield, CEO of At-Bristol Science Centre
Image source, Atkins
Tiny 'alligator' spotted at reservoirpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Bristol Water tweeted a video of a "little alligator" one of its engineers spotted on the shores of Chew Valley lake earlier on Friday.
A spokesman couldn't confirm the species, but said a staff member "bumped into it" doing a routine survey.
It was captured by two Bristol Water staff.
They caught it with a net, put it in a plastic container and it is now waiting to be collected by the RSPCA.
M5 resurfacing happening 'as fast as we can'published at 15:26 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Highways England
Highways England say it is "working as fast as we can" to get two lanes open on the M5, northbound "by 4.30-5pm".
It says all three lanes and the hard shoulder need resurfacing after the earlier accident and diesel spill.
A spokesman said it had endeavored to keep one lane open while working on two lanes at a time.
He added other roads in the area had become very congested as a result.
Quote Message
Appreciate frustration but substantial damage to all lanes which requires full resurfacing. We're working as fast as possible.
Highways England
The relaxing sounds of the forestpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Media caption,
Listen: The sounds of the Forest of Dean
BBC Springwatch has been out collecting the sounds and sights of the Forest of Dean.
The team took a trip to Gloucestershire to record the blissful quiet of one of Britain's most untouched landscapes.
Transport yourself to the middle of a windy British forest and relax.
Headphones essential.
M5 congestion between Taunton and Bristolpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Google
Image caption,
The deep red colours indicate slow or stopped traffic
Image source, Google
Pictures show extent of damage to the M5published at 14:36 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Travel: Facebook Live at the M5 with Dickon Hooperpublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Local newspaper headlines across the Westpublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Getty Images
- Somerset County Gazette: Angela Boyd says Buses of Somerset services need to be better for vulnerable patients, external
- GloucestershireLive: Gloucester woman accused of causing death of elderly cyclist, external
- Swindon Advertiser:Local charity helps young people achieve their dreams, external
- Bristol Post:Keynsham bypass and major South Bristol commuter route to get £5 million revamp, external
Weapons and drugs found in carpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Wiltshire Police
Two teenagers have been arrested after police found drugs and weapons in their car during a search.
The car they were travelling in was stopped at 12.30am because one of its headlights was out.
Inside the car officer's found a large amount of cannabis, cash, two knives and an imitation firearm.
The pair from Swindon, aged 17 and 18, are currently in custody.
Image source, Wiltshire Police
Quote Message
We will treat all firearms as real and loaded until proven otherwise; being in possession of anything that resembles a gun in a public place is both foolish, irresponsible and illegal.
PC Matt Herbert, Tri-Force Specialist Operations
Hero cat of the year award for Pixiepublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Media caption,
Watch: Pixie the cat is a hero to her family
A couple in Melksham say if it wasn't for their cat's heroics their 15-month-old daughter could be dead.
Owner Sophie Hellyer told BBC Wiltshire Pixie woke them in the night when their daughter April started choking.
In honour of the act, Pixie has been named Hero Cat during the National Cat Awards 2017 at the Savoy Hotel in London.
CCG 'disappointed' with report into after hours carepublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Somerset's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has responded to the CQC's report published today, external saying its' out-of-hours doctor service was unsafe, ineffective and poorly led.
The CCG chair said they were "disappointed with the findings":
Quote Message
The CCG issued a contract improvement notice at the end of 2016 and has been closely monitoring Vocare’s services for some months prior to the CQC's inspection earlier this year and pressing for improvements. This arose from concerns about long delays for patients seeking out-of-hours urgent care after they had called the NHS 111 number. Going forward, Somerset CCG is working with the CQC and monitoring Vocare’s services with the objective of ensuring they deliver the operational improvements needed to their organisation’s systems and in line with their agreed action plan.
Dr Ed Ford, Chairman, Somerset's CCG
Travel: THREE hour delay now, says the M5 signspublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Travel: 15 miles of congestion from Bridgwater to Westonpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Highways England
Image caption,
Looking north at J23, near Bridgwater, where the queuing begins
According to the Traffic England website cameras, external, the northbound congestion on the M5 is currently stretching from Weston-super-Mare down to Bridgwater.
As it stands, route planners suggest it would take two hours to drive that distance.
Image source, Highways England
Image caption,
And here at J21 for Burnham-on-Sea
Image source, Highways England
Image caption,
The congestion begins at Weston-super-Mare
Travel: 'Severe' delays continue on M5 near Westonpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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Highways England, external is describing the delays as "severe".
It says two lanes remain closed northbound due to a fuel spillage following a collision involving two lorries.
Emergency resurfacing work is required.
It is encouraging road users travelling to London to consider using the A30 and A303 to join the M3.
Out of hours NHS care is 'inadequate', declares watchdogpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, Science Photo Library
More on the story about the Care Quality Commission report into out-of-hours healthcare in Somerset:
The CQC has told Vocare - the company behind Somerset Doctors Urgent Care - that it must make a number of improvements including:
- Ensuring there are robust and effective systems and processes to monitor and improve quality and safety of the services
- Mitigating the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of patients, includes staff training, recruitment and management of medicines
In what is becoming a familiar concern, the inspector highlighted inadequate staffing levels to ensure patients could have timeless access to advice and treatment.
It urged the service to improve the way it dealt with complaints and shared lessons learned.
Cricket: Will the M5 travel delays impact tonight's T20 match?published at 11:05 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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If you're travelling from Somerset to Bristol for tonight's T20 cricket match, make sure you've planned your journey.
The Traffic England website , externalpredicts the current congestion to ease mid-afternoon.
After-hours NHS care put into 'special measures'published at 10:44 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
Image source, PA
The Care Quality Commission has told Vocare - known locally as Somerset Doctors Urgent Care - that it must make improvements to its NHS 111 and GP out-of-hours service.
In a report published today, external the health watchdog said the out-of-hours doctor service was unsafe, ineffective and poorly led.
The GP Out of Hours service has been placed into special measures and rated inadequate following an inspection carried out in April.
Leadership of the NHS 111 service, external was also said to be inadequate.
Quote Message
I am disappointed to see that Vocare is not demonstrating that it can provide the service that patients need. We expect services to... prioritise people with the most urgent needs at times of high demand, and to ensure that care and advice is delivered safely and effectively.
Ruth Rankine, Deputy Chief Inspector of General Practice
Travel: M5 re-surfacing needed after fuel spillpublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 4 August 2017
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