Somerset Council’s ambitious local transport plan, recently approved by the executive committee in Taunton, commits nearly £16 million in capital funding to new active travel projects through 2030. Despite this significant investment, rural areas in Somerset will see only a fraction of this money, due to grant funding restrictions and government priorities.
Active Travel England, part of the Department for Transport, along with developer contributions, provide much of the funding. However, less than £1.6 million has been earmarked specifically for new or enhanced rural walking and cycling routes. This has sparked concerns from both Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors who fear such low funding levels will fail to encourage rural residents to choose walking or cycling over car travel.
Lib Dem Councillor Ros Wyke for Mendip West emphasized the importance of supporting rural communities, which make up 49% of Somerset’s population. She highlighted the limited funds available for rural areas and warned that this could undermine efforts to improve connectivity, address public health, and reduce environmental impacts amid declining bus services. “Most of the rural active travel funding so far has originated from money ring-fenced by the former Mendip District Council,” she said. “Moving forward, virtually no funding is available for new rural active travel schemes, so we must explore creative solutions like Section 106 agreements.”
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Previous rural active travel improvements have relied heavily on legacy funds and third-party contributions, including government grants and developer funds. Key projects include new sections of the Strawberry Line path and the Windsor Hill Greenway extension, supported by former district council budgets. Future rural initiatives focus on extending the Steam Coast Trail in West Somerset and enhancing connectivity within the Exmoor area.
The local transport plan designates £1,550,285 for rural active travel projects, promising officer support to local groups advancing extensions of the Strawberry Line and Somerset Circle — a 76-mile cycle route slated to connect the county with Bristol, Bath, and the North Somerset coast. This funding also supports capital improvements along key corridors, bicycle parking, bus interchanges, and potential green lanes like Burcott Lane in Wells.
In stark contrast, urban areas are set to receive £10.8 million for cycle and walking infrastructure, with an additional £3.5 million dedicated to transport interchanges across bus and railway stations in urban hubs such as Taunton, Langport, and Wellington. Planned urban projects include expanding Yeovil’s Lyde Road corridor, improving Chard’s cycle routes, and developing new links along the A39 between Glastonbury, Street, and Bridgwater.
Mike O’Dowd-Jones, the council’s service director for infrastructure and transport, acknowledged the imbalance: “There is a larger contribution to urban areas, reflecting current government priorities. We must balance meeting funding criteria while continuing to support rural communities in delivering active travel schemes where possible.”
Conservative Councillor Bob Filmer, representing Brent, stressed the urgent need for increased rural investment to alleviate congestion and promote public health in the countryside. “We encourage people to leave their cars for environmental and health reasons, but without good alternatives in rural areas, it’s impossible,” he said. His division includes the proposed Berrow Greenway, a key priority in the Burnham and Highbridge local cycling and walking infrastructure plan.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, confirmed ongoing efforts to involve public health officials and emphasized the need for continued collaboration with the government and Active Travel England to advance rural active travel initiatives.