The £15m Somer Valley Links masterplan looks to improve connections across the region with walking, wheeling and cycling alongside mass transit.
Launched last week, a public consultation runs until midnight Sunday 16th March. Among other things, the process wants to hear views on eight new mobility hubs, significant overhauls of bus infrastructure – including 22 bus stop upgrades – and around half a mile of bus lanes. Over 5km of footway improvements, 3km of new footpaths, 1km of cycle routes, 25 pedestrian crossing and eight upgraded pedestrian crossings.
Covering an area from Whitchurch south to Pensford, Clutton, Temple Cloud, Farrington Gurney, the Somer Valley itself and onto Batch via Odd Down, funding will come from the Department for Transport. The project falls under the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Programme.
Consultations on specific sections of the scheme are set to go live this month and early March. Dates are as follows:
- Temple Cloud Village Hall, Temple Cloud – 24th February (3pm to 7pm)
- The Hive, Peasedown St John – 26th February (3pm to 7pm)
- Pensford Memorial Hall, Pensford – 27th February (2pm to 6pm)
- St Luke’s Church, Wellsway, Bath – 5th March (3pm to 7pm)
- Trinity Hub, Radstock – 6th March (3pm to 7pm)
Find full details about the project and consultation here.
‘We want to provide people with greater transport choice and reduce reliance on cars, but if routes don’t feel safe to walk or cycle, or if they don’t easily connect, then it puts people off,’ said Cllr Sarah Warren. ‘We also need to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, so I welcome this report which I will consider carefully.’
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Image: Nick Page / Unsplash