Work to start on new path alongside busy A road

Tony Greenaway said the local community had helped to raise funds

Work to create a new cycle and footpath alongside a busy A road on the Somerset Levels is set to begin within weeks.

The 200m path will be created alongside the A378 in Curry Rivel.

It is the first phase of an aspirational scheme to create a car-free route on the Somerset Levels that will link Curry Rivel to Langport.

The route has been "three years in the making", according to The Curry Rivel Active Travel Group.

Tony Greenway, from the group, said Curry Rivel Parish Council approved the purchase of the land before Christmas 2024, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Volunteers and a local civil engineering firm have already cleared the section, which is between North Street and Park Lane, meaning work could begin in weeks.

"A contractor has been appointed and work is hoped to be completed by the end of February," Mr Greenway said.

The work is being funded by a grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund as well as money raised by the community.

Fundraising is ongoing for future stages of the scheme.