Plans are underway to establish a new community space and orchard near Cheddar Reservoir, adjacent to the town of Axbridge in Somerset.
The small town, positioned north of the reservoir and beneath the Mendip Hills national landscape, has gained recognition as a filming location, featuring historic buildings in TV series such as Can You Keep A Secret? and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Axbridge Town Council has proposed developing a site just south of the homes on Knightstone Close, close to Furlong Recreation Ground on Penn Way, where the local Axbridge Saxons Football Club hosts matches. This land was previously used for agriculture and was owned by the late Derek Law, a local resident. After his passing in 2021, his son Richard Law generously gifted the land to the town council for community recreational purposes indefinitely, with a stipulation preventing any housing development.
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Currently accessible via three routes-a public footpath from Furlong Recreation Ground, a path from Knightstone Close, and a route via Portmeade Drove that crosses the Old River Axe-the plan includes enhancements to all these paths. Improvements will feature new signage and educational information.
The proposals also include planting a small cider orchard near the northern entrance and introducing new trees and hedges throughout the site, such as oak trees lining the footpaths, alongside blackthorns and honeysuckle on the western boundary.
A shipping container is planned for the eastern side of the area to store maintenance equipment. Upgrading the footpaths will facilitate easier access for residents between Axbridge and the reservoir, with potential future connections to the Strawberry Line active travel route.
A spokesperson for P&M Advisory Ltd., acting on behalf of Axbridge Town Council, stated: “The Axbridge Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in spring 2022, supports developments which conserve and enhance countryside access, respect the natural environment, encourage recreation and play, and promote suitable planting. These proposals will make a modest but meaningful improvement to the area’s social and environmental wellbeing, aligning with the town’s strategic vision.”
A decision from Somerset Council regarding the proposals is anticipated before the end of the year. Given that the town council is the applicant, the matter may be considered publicly by the Planning Committee North, responsible for significant applications in the former Sedgemoor district, rather than through delegated authority by planning officers.