IT could soon get a lot easier to walk and cycle around Yeovil under new council proposals.
Somerset County Council has published its new local walking and cycling infrastructure plan (LWCIP) for Yeovil following extensive consultation with cycling groups and other local authorities.
The plan involves the creation of new, safe walking and cycling routes, as well as the enhancement of the existing network, to encourage people to travel around the town more sustainably.
The improvements will gradually be phased in over the next ten years as funding becomes available from central government, housing developers and other sources.
Currently, less than one in four (24 per cent) commuting trips are undertaken by walking or cycling – compared to nearly two-thirds (66 per cent) of journeys involving cars or vans.
In addition, 64 per cent of journeys under five kilometres were made by car or van, according to data from the 2011 census.
To address this, the plan includes a number of new routes and enhancements which can be delivered within the next ten years.
The improvements identified for Yeovil are designed to work in harmony with the Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme being pursued by South Somerset District Council, as well as connecting major development sites to the town centre.
The following stretches have also been identified for short-term improvement, with funding already being partly or fully in place:
- Way-finding around the town centre (funded by the district council)
- Improvements to the Middle Street public realm (funded through the future high streets fund)
- Cycling infrastructure within the Lufton Key Site (secured from housing developers)
- An east-west cycle route within the Brimsmore Key Site (secured from housing developers)
- Upgrades to Hendford, South Street and Stars Lane (part-funded by the district council)
- Improvements between Middle Street and South Western Terrace (part-funded by the district council)
- Improvements to High Street, The Borough and Westminster Street public realm (funded through the district council and the future high streets fund)
- Improvements to eastern Middle Street and Wyndham Street public realm (funded through the district council, the future high streets fund and housing developers)
Other projects which have been identified for improvement for the longer term include:
- Cycle links through the former cattle market site on Reckleford (to be funded by housing developers)
- Completion of the Lyde Road cycleway (to be funded by housing developers and the government’s active travel fund)
- Enhancing cycling links through Yeovil Country Park (to be funded by the district council)
- Filling in town centre ‘missing links’ (no funding currently committed)
- Cycle links from the Keyford urban extension (to be funded by housing developers)
- New crossing on Lyde Road near the Upper Mudford urban extension (to be funded by housing developers)
- Upgrades to Lysander Road, linking Watercombe Lane to Yeovil Pen Mill railway station via existing paths (no funding currently committed)
- Upgrades to Bluebell Way cycle links (no funding currently committed)
In the longer-term, the county council hopes new cycle corridors will be delivered – one leading from the Upper Mudford urban extension to the A30 Reckleford via Buckler’s Mead Academy (which will cost between £900,000 and £3.2M), and one from the Brimsmore Key Site to Yeovil Hospital via the A37 Ilchester Road (budgeted at between £3.3M and £6.9M).
Councillor John Woodman, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We have a great track record for securing investment from central government and delivering infrastructure, and these plans are a vital part of ensuring we give people in Somerset the choice to use their cars less, which in turn cuts congestion and pollution in our towns.
“We have worked closely with our district council partners and local cycling groups to develop these plans and we will continue to do so as we move forward.
“But they are by no means the finished article – we need the public to get involved and help us to ensure we build infrastructure that works well for everyone.”
The plans are intended to reflect central government’s ambitions to increase walking activity, double cycling levels by 2025 and encourage more primary school-age children to walk to and from school.
In addition to the Yeovil proposals, a LWCIP has also been drawn up for Taunton, with proposals for Bridgwater, Frome and the wider Mendip district also currently in the works.
The county council has netted £80,000 in funding to draft three further plans for market towns in Somerset, with nominations being put forward in the coming months.
Councillor Clare Paul, cabinet member for public health, said: “Encouraging people to cycle and walk more is a great way to support health and well-being.
“It’s vital for the health of our environment and our communities – it offers the potential for greener, healthier streets for all.
“Choosing to leave your car at home is better for you and the planet – we all have a role to play in tackling climate change, and we can help to look after our health at the same time.”
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