It will create an unbroken link for pedestrians and cyclists between two towns
Daniel Mumby Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Mumby and Local Democracy Reporter
05:10, 14 Jan 2026
A public meeting will be held later this month regarding plans for an off-road cycle link between Taunton and Wellington.
The Grand Western Greenway Association is endeavouring to create an unbroken link for pedestrians and cyclists between the two towns, closely following the route of the former Grand Western Canal and providing a safe alternative to the often congested A38.
The project has already attracted the backing of local MP Gideon Amos and the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and Wellington Community Hospital.
The group will now be staging a public meeting in Wellington on Saturday, January 24, giving local residents an opportunity to find out more about the proposals and get involved in making them a reality.
The meeting will be held at the 1st Wellington Scouts HQ at 6 Fore Street (behind the Co-operative Food store) between 2pm and 4pm, with a panel of experts being assembled to present on the route and take questions from the public.
The panel will comprise the following individuals:
Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrat MP for Taunton and Wellington
Charles Biscoe, founder of the Grand Western Greenway Association
Councillor Tom Deakin, chairman of Taunton Town Council
John Grimshaw, founder of Greenways and Cycle Routes (which has been supporting the delivery of the Strawberry Line and the Windsor Hill Greenway elsewhere in Somerset)
Councillor Dave Mansell (whose Upper Tone division includes a significant section of the planned route)
Keith Wheatley, councillor on Wellington Town Council
Mr Biscoe said: "With the recent announcement that Somerset is going to benefit from nearly £10m of new funding from Active Travel England there's never been a better time to seek to commission and begin work on the Greenway."
The Department for Transport (DfT) announced in mid-December 2025 that Somerset Council would receive just over £9.4m over the next four years to design and deliver new walking and cycling projects across the county, on top of previous grant funding received.
The public meeting will include a discussion of the most likely route the Greenway will take, following the completion of a detailed feasibility study by Greenways and Cycle Routes, funded by the two town councils.
Under the current plans, the western end of the route would begin near the entrance to the Pritex factory on Lillebonne Way within the Longforth Farm estate, crossing over the railway line via the existing bridge.
A key section of the route will be delivered as part of a planned development of 320 homes accessed from Wardleworth Way, running along the re-purposed 'haul road' which Network Rail will use in the construction of Wellington's new railway station.
Mr Biscoe said: "When Network Road builds the station, they will almost certainly build a 'haul road' from Tonedale to the station site on the north side of the railway.
"They have agreed to leave that in place, rather than remove it as they would normally.
"West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. has a planning application before Somerset Council to build a number of homes in this location, and their active travel plan (every application has one) involves incorporating this haul-road into it."
The route will provide a direct link with the northern platform of the new station, before continuing on the north side of the historic Nynehead boat lift out to Nynehead Road, linking up with the existing public right of way to East Nynehead.
Mr Biscoe said: "We would then hope to follow the route of the defunct Grand Western Canal to Tone Green and continue along the north side of the railway to the Oake/ Bradford-on-Tone road.
"This is the only practical rail crossing which, while not perfect, could accommodate safe passage from north to south."
From there, the greenway would closely hug the southern side of the railway line through Allerford, passing south of the Ford Farm site in Norton Fitzwarren and passing under the B3165 Silk Mills Road via the Wessex Water pumping station, providing access to the park and ride site.
Pedestrians and cyclists can thereafter following the existing routes past the Frieze Hill Community Orchard onto the A3027 Staplegrove Road, picking up the existing shared used path along the A3087 Trenchard Way to Taunton railway station.
Passengers wishing to access the town centre from this point will be able to use the new Firepool boulevard and the soon-to-be-replaced Morrisons footbridge to cross the River Tone into the independent quarter.
Mr Biscoe said that he was hopeful that other paths leading off this main spur could be upgraded to provide an improved active travel link to the hospital and local schools.
He said: "Our goal has always to do more than build a linear route between Wellington and Taunton.
"We want to connect several communities along the way and have mapped out possible routes to bring Wiveliscombe, Langford Budville, Milverton, Nynehead, Hillfarrance, Oake, Bradford-on-Tone, Bishop's Hull and Norton Fitzwarren on to the main route through a series of 'behind-the-hedge' paths and quiet lanes.
"By connecting the Greenway to these communities, it will small communities to each other and to Wellington and Taunton in turn."
The Oake Neighbourhood Plan, which was officially ratified in December 2025, includes a commitment to improved walking and cycling links between the village and Milverton, with the potential to link up to other local settlements.
For more information on the public meeting on January 24, contact Keith Wheatley by calling 07710 326698 or email kafwheatley@gmail.com.
For more information about the project, or to see an interactive map of the planned route, visit www.grandwesterngreenway.co.uk.
Somerset Council confirmed on Tuesday (January 6) that the installation of the new pedestrian and cycling bridge near the Coal Orchard site would be carried out "between March and August" this year, following the conclusion of construction work on the nearby Firepool boulevard.
Both of these projects are funded (fully or in part) by the government's future high streets fund, rather than grants from Active Travel England.
A new section of cycle route along the B3187 Taunton Road in Wellington (near the Lidl supermarket) will be delivered by the council using £607,000 from Active Travel England, in line with the recently approved Wellington local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP).