Volunteers urged to help preserve 'much-loved' path

The five-mile route links two towns running alongside the A358

Volunteers are being urged to help preserve a "much-loved" traffic-free route between two towns after funding was withdrawn.

Somerset's The Stop Line Way was opened between Ilminster and Chard in 2008 by the national charity Walk Wheel Cycle Trust - formerly Sustrans - which has since withdrawn from the partnership due to financial constraints but continues to maintain the route.

Matt Day, chair of the Community Network Active Travel Group, has urged anyone who uses the route and "wants to see it cared for" to join the Friends of the Path group.

He said: "This could be anything from litter picking and cutting vegetation back, to thinking about future plans and where funding could come from."

Mr Day said the path is useful for people who want to avoid the "very busy" A358.

The five-mile route is on The Stop Line, a defence path built during World War Two to defend against potential German invasion.

It is one of the few remaining traffic-free routes in the area, but Mr Day said there is not anybody "thinking about its future".

"Whilst some work has been going on, there is no funding model in place, which is a shame as there is a huge amount of heritage there," Mr Day said.

'We remain committed'

Leaders of The Friends of the Path group say they were inspired by the success of The Strawberry Line - a route which currently runs from Yatton railway station to Wedmore Road in Cheddar - also maintained by volunteers.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset Council's lead member for communities, said: "If anyone can help with this project, I hope they come forward to help keep open a much-loved and well-used route."

A spokesperson for Walk Wheel Cycle Trust said: "We have maintained a section of the Stop Line Way between Ilminster and Chard for many years, having built it 20 years ago.

"There is no suggestion this route will close, and we remain committed to maintaining this section as required under the terms of our lease."