HIGHWAYS bosses at Somerset County Council have admitted to "a change of mind" over their speed management policies and are embarking on a major U-turn.

With county council elections looming next year, the LibDem-controlled authority is keen to alter its policy over 30mph limits in settlements and full-time 20mph limits outside schools.

On Wednesday, the council's Scrutiny Committee agreed to set up a working party to suggest a revised policy that should be ready and in force by April.

Current policy has seen low speed limits popping up in the most unlikely places with the A358 from Taunton to Williton, and other hotspots like Henlade and Hillcommon, causing frustration among motorists.

The county defines a settlement as having ten properties on a 1,300m section of road.

That definition is now set to be tightened to try and stop open rural roads being shackled with low speed limits.

Councillors felt more flexible policies, tailored to individual communities, were needed.

Unnecessary 'buffer zones', before and after 30mph limits also look likely to get the chop, and a more flexible approach to 20mph zones outside schools is likely to see flashing lights introduced to indicate when the limits are in force.

The proposed changes follow a consultation period in which over 2,000 members of the public contributed.

Cllr Tim Carroll, who is responsible for transport, suggested that if current policy was changed, traffic bosses would review inappropriate limits on major routes to consider the overall impact on a stretch of road, rather than just the wishes of individual communities.

Communities which had re-quested speed limits in the first place would be consulted on any plans to remove them.

Next week, the county's Executive Board is due to approve the Scrutiny Committee's recommendations, which will then see the working party writing the fine detail of the policy.