A vital missing segment of Somerset’s expanding Strawberry Line path has officially opened, promising easier and safer cycling and walking for residents south of the Cheddar Yeo River.
Community members, volunteers, and Somerset Council representatives gathered to celebrate the arrival of this important addition to the active travel network. The newly completed section bridges the “Kings of Wessex Gap,” a break that previously limited off-road access along the popular route.
Constructed by Greenways & Cycleroutes and funded by Somerset Council, the path begins at Cheddar Leisure Centre on Station Road. It leads around Kings Academy’s playing fields before crossing the river on a newly built 30-metre bridge. This upgrade connects the southern stretch of the Strawberry Line with central Cheddar and beyond, providing direct access to Kings Academy, the leisure centre, Sharpham Road sports ground, the new Bloor housing estate, Axbridge, Cheddar Reservoir, and Yatton Station’s national rail services.
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Councillor Ros Wyke, Somerset Council’s Associate Lead Member for Active Travel and Public Transport, praised the project: “It’s fantastic to see yet another section of the Strawberry Line delivered. This initiative aligns with our council’s commitment to active travel. The new link offers easier access to the leisure centre, encouraging people to drive less. Students and staff now enjoy a safe, off-road route to school, promoting independence and boosting physical and mental health. I thank the school, Wessex Learning Trust, and the leisure centre for their passionate support in turning this aspiration into reality.”
The Strawberry Line forms part of a larger, traffic-free corridor extending from the Mendips to the coast. It has evolved through collaboration among community groups, charities, contractors, councils, and landowners, transforming a disused railway into a multi-use trail for walkers, cyclists, mobility users, and horse riders.
Local contractors Holcim UK and Heidelberg Materials UK significantly supported the Cheddar extension by donating over 1,200 tonnes of aggregates valued at £25,000. Simon Parkes, unit manager at Heidelberg’s Batts Combe quarry, commended the trustees of the Strawberry Line for their dedication and highlighted the value the new path offers to the local community, including his colleagues.
Simon Evans, quarry manager at Holcim UK’s Callow site, added, “We’re proud to contribute both materials and volunteer support. Being part of this project underscores our long-standing community commitment and the positive impact it will have on residents.”
Supported by Mendip Council in earlier stages and now Somerset Council, the project continues promoting active travel, alleviating congestion, reducing pollution, and bolstering local economies along its route.