Towns could be connected by walking and cycling path

Charles Biscoe would like to see the path follow the route of the former Grand Western Canal

Towns in Somerset could soon be connected by a new walking and cycling route which celebrates the area’s industrial heritage.

Pedestrians and cyclists wishing to travel between Taunton and Wellington currently have to rely on the A38, which is frequently congested and has narrow or limited pavements.

A long-awaited feasibility study into a proposed active travel route linking the towns has identified numerous options for where such a route could go – including the delivery of new cycle paths alongside the main road.

But retired health professional and Wellington resident Charles Biscoe, has put forward a different route, dubbed the Grand Western Greenway, which will link the two towns by following much of the route of the former Grand Western Canal.

Mr Biscoe said his proposal along the canal route, which originally ran between Tiverton and Taunton, before would be more "beautiful" than the one proposed alongside the A38.

He added: “We hope that putting these paths in the countryside means that not only cyclists will use it, but walkers and people with less mobility will be able to get out into the countryside more easily."

The Somerset stretch of the canal has largely disappeared except for a few footpaths and heritage assets such as the Nynehead boat lift near Wellington

However, Mr Biscoe’s proposal has not recommended to be taken forward at this stage.

This followed a study completed by Stantec for Somerset Council which looked at the different options for a cycle route between Taunton and Wellington.

The report stated that the Grand Western Greenway offered “reasonable value for money” and noted that schemes which followed either side of the A38 faced issues from potential landowner disputes and the higher cost of materials.

Mr Biscoe said: “We’ve had long conversations with Somerset Council, and they said to us that building a path through the countryside is six times cheaper than building something by the side of the highway."

Taunton Town Council has been supportive of the project, with its grant committee voting in January to provide £500 towards a website and voting to upgrade rights of way to deliver part of the Taunton end of the greenway.

Somerset Council said it had been in discussions about the draft proposal and had secured more than £400,000 from Active Travel England towards the design and development of new walking and cycling schemes.