A new off-road cycle route has been opened in North Somerset, as part of a major upgrade to the county’s power grid. National Grid recently completed construction of a new substation on Drove Way in the village of Sandford, located within the Mendip Hills National Landscape. The complex will handle a significant proportion of the energy generated by the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, channelling it into cables running under the Mendip Hills and directly to local homes. As part of the construction, a section of the Strawberry Line active travel route - which currently runs uninterrupted from Yatton railway station to Station Road in Cheddar - has been moved off the local roads, making it safer for both locals and visitors to the area.
The new off-road path provides a safer link between Drove Way and the A368 Station Road, bypassing the narrow and busy Nye Road. The route was officially opened on Saturday morning (October 25) at the end of Road Safety Week, with a large turnout of local residents, Strawberry Line users, and families celebrating the occasion. Representatives from National Grid and North Somerset Council cut the ribbon to open the route, with more than 200 attendees participating in the event.
After a short journey along the new section, participants enjoyed various activities and amenities, including free refreshments, face painting, and a raffle to raise funds for Sandford Primary School. Steven Haskayne, project director for National Grid, expressed pride in the contribution to safer travel options, noting that the link is a direct result of public consultation. The partnership between National Grid and North Somerset Council was instrumental in making the new path possible, serving as a lasting benefit to the local community.
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Councillor Peter Crew, deputy chairman of North Somerset Council, highlighted the positive impact the new route will have on visitors to the Strawberry Line and encouraged people to leverage this asset for various recreational activities. He expressed gratitude to National Grid for funding and delivering the scheme, acknowledging the dedicated efforts of council officers and volunteers in maintaining the Strawberry Line.
The Strawberry Line, named after the large volume of locally grown strawberries it once carried to London and Birmingham markets, has been gradually reopened as a walking and cycling route since the 1980s. The goal is for it to eventually stretch uninterrupted between Clevedon and Shepton Mallet, with further sections expected to open in the next 12 months. The latest section follows similar construction methods as the previously opened link between the villages of Westbury-sub-Mendip and Easton, with additional sections near Dulcote recycling centre and the new Lidl supermarket in Wells set to close remaining gaps.
Mick Fletcher, chairman of the Strawberry Line Society, expressed delight in the new path, emphasizing its value to the local community and the convenience of the newly built car park. He encouraged individuals to explore the path and offered information on volunteering opportunities through the society.
For more information on the Strawberry Line and volunteering, visit www.thestrawberryline.org.uk.