Follett’s Farm
We begin our active travel news roundup this month with the planning decision on the housing development at Follett’s Farm. In case you don’t know about this proposed new estate, it sits to the south of the new houses that have just been built at Strawberry Grange. The plans for Follett’s Farm include 530 homes and some potentially exciting active travel infrastructure.
We’re really pleased that Somerset Council are taking active travel seriously as they consider the future of our town and its inhabitants, and how they will get about. As such, they have imposed three important conditions on the new development.
Condition 4: “No dwelling hereby approved shall be occupied until a measures only travel plan has been submitted to an agreed in writing by the local planning authority. The travel plan shall set out the measures by which alternative means of travel to the private motor car will be promoted and the time scale for the implementation and duration of the travel plan. Once approved such measures shall be fully implemented In accordance with the approved details. Reason:- To promote sustainable travel options in accordance with policy D14 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011 to 2032.” (Our emphasis.)
Condition 7: “The proposed estate roads, footways, footpaths, tactile paving, cycleways, bus stops/bus lay-bys, verges, junctions, street lighting, sewers, drains, retaining walls, service routes, surface water outfall, vehicle overhang margins, embankments, visibility splays, accesses, carriageway gradients, drive gradients, car, motorcycle and cycle parking, and street furniture shall be constructed and laid out in accordance with details to be approved by the Local Planning Authority in writing before their construction begins. For this purpose, plans and sections, indicating as appropriate, the design, layout, levels, gradients, materials and method of construction shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. Reason: In the interest of highways safety in accordance with policy D14 Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032.” (Our emphasis.)
Condition 9: “The submission of all reserved matters applications for the layout of the development shall include details of cycleway and foot path permeability. Such details shall show permeability and links to existing development and to existing foot and cycle paths. Reason: In the interest of sustainable development in accordance with policies D13 and D14 9 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032.”
Let’s hope Somerset Council enforce these!
Linham Road Link
Our next item is a big celebration. After years of work from our campaign, alongside some really dedicated staff at the council and contractors, we are delighted that the new cycle path between Linham Road and Bridgwater Docks is finally open!
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport, unveiled the new path, accompanied by kids from Northgate Primary School, BACC members, and staff from the contractor and council. You can read the full article in the Bridgwater Mercury here.
Dunball Roundabout Upgrade
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you can’t have failed to notice the extensive roadworks that are now well underway at the Dunball roundabout. Thsi is intended to make things easier for road traffic coming to and from M5 junction 23, including those destined for Hinkley Point.
However, we were delighted to be approached by the contractor Aecom who actively sought us out for our views on what could be done during the works to accommodate active travel.
We met with their project manager on Tuesday 10th December on site, where we cycled around the routes and discussed options for making active travel just a bit easier for folks travelling between Bridgwater and Downend and Puriton.
Aecom’s project manager was quick to respond to our comments, having discussions with their traffic management team the very next day. They have agreed to extend the lower 40 mph speed limit so that it includes the crossing point to Downend, as well as adding signage to warn drivers that there is a crossing point there.
Curry Rivel to Langport Route
Fantastic news from our friends at Curry Rivel Active Travel Group: work on a new cycle route between Curry Rivel and Langport is set to begin early next year. After decades of campaigning from Tony Greenaway & co, their efforts are finally paying off with this huge success.
Read the full article on Somerset Live.
New Taunton-Wellington Link?
Another problematic Somerset active travel route has taken a step closer towards a solution this month, with the announcement of a feasibility study looking into using the old Grand Western Canal route between Taunton and Wellington.
Again, this just shows what can be done with willpower and the right attitude! Read the story here.
Levels & Moors LCN
Following on from the success story above, we continue our theme of showing what can be achieved by passionate people with this story from the Somerset Levels.
The Levels & Moors Local Community Network (LCN) is pushing forward with plans to link Langport with Aller. As Gerard Tucker, chairman of Aller Parish Council, says:
“In a rural community, there isn’t an expectation that other people will do things for us. It’s a case of: ‘what can we do to help ourselves?’. It’s about drivers like me who can pull the community together and recognise that if we did these things, the outcome would be better for everybody.”
We think the same applies right across the county, not just in the more rural parts. If we want something, we have to make it happen!
If you’ve ever thought about helping you local community and future generations, now is the time — BACC are ctively seeking new volunteers to help push forward projects like these. You may not have much time to spare, but whatever you can do will probably have a much bigger impact than you realise — it really doesn’t take much to make big changes happen. If you’d like to have an informal chat about helping out, do get in touch.