A public meeting is set to take place later this month to discuss ambitious plans for an off-road cycle and pedestrian route connecting Taunton and Wellington. The initiative, spearheaded by the Grand Western Greenway Association, aims to establish a continuous and safe pathway along the historic Grand Western Canal corridor, offering an alternative to the congested A38 road.
This project has garnered strong support from local figures, including Liberal Democrat MP Gideon Amos and the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which manages key hospitals in both towns. The upcoming public meeting on Saturday, January 24, at the 1st Wellington Scouts HQ, 6 Fore Street, will run from 2pm to 4pm and provide residents the chance to learn more and contribute to the development.
A panel of experts will present the project details and address public questions. The panel includes MP Gideon Amos, Charles Biscoe (founder of the Grand Western Greenway Association), Councillor Tom Deakin (Chairman of Taunton Town Council), John Grimshaw (founder of Greenways and Cycle Routes), along with Councillors Dave Mansell and Keith Wheatley.
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Charles Biscoe emphasized the timely nature of the project given the recent announcement of almost £10 million in funding from Active Travel England to Somerset over the coming four years. This substantial investment will support the design and delivery of new walking and cycling infrastructure across the county.
The proposed route has been defined through a feasibility study funded by both town councils and supported by Greenways and Cycle Routes. Starting near the Pritex factory on Lillebonne Way in Taunton, it will cross the railway via an existing bridge and integrate with new housing developments, including a 320-home project on Wardleworth Way. Network Rail has agreed to retain a haul road constructed for the new Wellington railway station, which will form part of the greenway.
From the station, the route will follow the historic canal’s path and railway lines through several key points including Tone Green and Nynehead Road, linking to existing public pathways. It will provide safe crossings such as the Oake/Bradford-on-Tone road and continue via quiet lanes and trails through Allerford and Norton Fitzwarren.
Access to Taunton town centre will be facilitated by the new Firepool boulevard and an updated Morrisons footbridge over the River Tone. Additionally, the scheme envisions linking nearby communities such as Wiveliscombe, Langford Budville, Milverton, and others to the main greenway through a network of “behind-the-hedge” paths and quiet lanes, enhancing regional connectivity.
The Oake Neighbourhood Plan recently ratified also supports improved active travel links in the region, particularly between Oake and Milverton.
For further details about the meeting, contact Keith Wheatley at 07710 326698 or [email protected]. More information and an interactive map of the route are available at www.grandwesterngreenway.co.uk.
In related news, Somerset Council confirmed that a new pedestrian and cycling bridge near the Coal Orchard site will be installed between March and August this year as part of the Firepool boulevard development. This and other projects are funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund. Additionally, a £607,000 cycle route along the B3187 Taunton Road near Wellington is planned, funded through Active Travel England, aligned with the Wellington local cycling and walking infrastructure plan.