A recently completed cycleway in Somerset has come under intense scrutiny after data revealed the project’s steep cost per journey, sparking debate over public spending priorities.
The 1.36-kilometer Dunster to Minehead route, which cost £2.7 million to construct, has seen only 2,418 pedestrian and cycling journeys per week, according to Somerset Council statistics. Based on this usage and assuming it remains steady for 20 years, the cost equates to approximately £1.08 per journey—excluding ongoing maintenance expenses.
Critics argue this represents an inefficient use of taxpayer money, especially given that the figure accounts for both walkers and cyclists, although the project was primarily promoted as a cycling initiative.
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James Wright, an Exmoor farmer and campaigner, voiced his concerns about the council’s spending choices. “Somerset Council claims financial hardship, citing the need to raise council taxes, reduce services, and introduce parking charges. Yet they allocate millions to vanity projects like this cycleway,” he stated.
Wright further compared the cycleway’s cost with other potential transportation investments: “Reopening the rail link between Bishops Lydeard and Taunton would cost £5 million, but the council chose to spend £2.7 million on just 1,360 meters of cycle path. What we need is genuine leadership, not symbolic gestures.”
The first portion of the cycleway—from Bircham Road to Marsh Street—opened in July 2023, with construction of the second section from Marsh Street to the Dunster junction underway since May 6. The total final cost of the project remains unclear.
Freedom of Information responses revealed that Somerset Council has conducted only one usage survey since the initial segment opened, and no formal impact assessment has been completed yet.
In reply, a Somerset Council representative explained that government funding for such schemes is restricted to walking and cycling projects and emphasized the broader benefits. “These initiatives improve access for non-car owners, such as young people attending college, and encourage healthier lifestyles through safe, off-road paths. This, in turn, helps reduce NHS costs and workplace sickness. Over the lifecycle of the facility, these benefits are quantified and outweigh the initial investment, making the scheme good value for money,” the spokesperson said, adding that user feedback has been positive and the route will serve the community for many years to come.