Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Timescale proposed for cycle route ‘optimistic’
ASOMERSET councillor has said campaigners are “extremely optimistic” to expect work to begin on a new cycle route between two of the county’s largest towns by late next year.
The Taunton Area Cycling Campaign wants better cycling provision for the county town, lobbying Somerset County Council to spend more money on cycle routes.
The group has begun working with the council and other partners on a traffic-free cycle route between Taunton and Wellington, to encourage more green commuting and take pressure off the congested A38.
But the council has warned there remain “many complex issues to resolve” before the route can be delivered – including the location of the route itself and whether Government funding can be secured.
TACC member, Chris Waddilove, addressed the issue at a virtual full council meeting this week.
He said: “Cycling has experienced a boom during the Covid lockdown, as the reduction in cars on the road and the imperative to stay local encouraged more people to cycle, both as a means of pleasure and transport.
“There is now a real opportunity here to effect long-term behaviour change to the benefit of all.
“Our research has shown that one of its most popular and beneficial infrastructure proposals is a Wellington to Taunton cycle trail, a route used on average for 1,600 dangerous journeys per day.
“A first dedicated, off-road trail would be a very significant move and show serious intent to support cycling.
“Will the council work with us, Somerset West and Taunton Council, Citizens UK Somerset and Sustrans to achieve this project, aiming to get construction under way before the end of 2022?”
The A38 between Taunton and Wellington has very limited provision for cyclists in terms of cycle lanes, either on the road or on wider sections of pavement.
Part of the National Cycle Network does run between Taunton town centre and the village of Langford Budville, north of Wellington.
However, only a short-section of this is traffic-free, with cyclists having to share the road with other vehicles the rest of the time.
Cllr John Woodman, cabinet member for highways and transport, responded that the council had successfully bid for active travel funding from central government, and had allocated £1.5m in its capital programme to help with this.
He said: “We are already part of the working group that has been set up to look at the feasibility of this road.
“But there are many complex issues to resolve – not least establishing in detail where such a route would run, securing the funding and acquiring the land as necessary.”
He added: “Your proposed timescales look extremely optimistic, but nevertheless we will continue to play an active role in this and other similar proposals across Somerset.”