TWO county councillors have reached across the political divide to champion road safety improvements in the Forest.

Labour's Paul McMahon (Coleford) and UKIP's Richard Leppington (Blakeney and Bream) have secured the go-ahead from Gloucestershire County Council for a new Forest-wide road safety committee.

The aim of the committee is to highlight danger spots in the Forest and get action to improve safety.

Cllr McMahon said: "For me this is not about politics, absolutely not. "We are on different sides of the fence politically but this is about people's safety and this is a major community issue for us.

"It is something we both have interest and want to do something about it.

"The Forest of Dean doesn't have a voice on road safety. Unless you scream and shout you aren't going to get anywhere."

Cllr McMahon said he put the request to form a committee to the county council's Cabinet last week and it was agreed.

The committee would need official status at Shire Hall "because this cannot just be a talking shop," said Cllr Leppington.

He added: "People do not feel they have a voice in their community on a vitally important issue.

"As their representatives we have to make a fuss and get something people feel they can own."

Cllr McMahon said there had been nine deaths on Forest roads over the last year.

"People can inform us where the danger hotspots are in the Forest and we can monitor that and make recommendations to the council.

"We know at least half a dozen dangerous places in the Forest where people have either been injured or killed."

An accident at Westbury recently has increased calls for action – and Network Rail has promised to cut back overgrown vegetation near the railway bridge on the A48.

Vice-chair of Westbury Parish Council and member of the A48 forum Simon Phelps said: "There is a lot of shrubbery growing on the hill on the Elton side of the railway which reduces visibility.

"We have also requested that the 30mph speed limit is extended to Jordan Hill which would also improve safety."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We have had discussions with Gloucestershire County Council and we will carry out work to cut down the vegetation. It should be done in the next few weeks."