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Helping hand for carnival carts

By Hinkley Point C media team | Posted November 11, 2019

Helping hand for carnival carts

Bridgwater Carnival wowed the crowds again this year with its amazing procession. But passers-by may have been surprised to spot some carts gathering at Junction 23 of the M5 not long after the main event.

Hinkley Point C lent its Freight Facility at Junction 23, which is normally used as the check in point for HGV’s, so that more than 30 carts could be safely split down ahead of their journey to Burnham-on-Sea’s carnival.

Carnival carts use a Vehicle Special Order (VSO) to travel on public highways. When in the carnival procession area, one towing vehicle can tow two trailers. But outside the carnival, the VSO allows only one trailer per towing vehicle.

Carnival organisers approached EDF to see if they could use the facility so they could improve on previous years when the decoupling took place in a closed lane on the A38 Bristol Road. Junction 23 was an ideal location because it was large enough to allow the 100-feet carts to turn.

Brian Buckingham, Site Operations Freight Service Manager, said: “Lending the space allowed us to help with road safety and remove a potential traffic obstruction from the public highway. We’re so pleased to be able to support the longstanding event and contribute by helping to make it safer for all of the clubs and people involved.”

IMAGE CREDIT: PETER J NICHOLLS PHOTOGRAPHY / OTHER IMAGERY ARE COPYRIGHT OF HEADSHOT LONDON @ PORTRAIT CORPORATE PHOTOGRAPHERS