The Somer Valley Links (SVL) project aims to improve travel between Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield, and Bath via the A367, Bristol via the A37, and the A362 link road between them, through better bus infrastructure and enabling more walking and cycling.
SVL is a strategic corridor project, funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and previously led by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), within the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme.
We are now leading on management and delivery of this project following the approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC) at the WECA Committee meeting on 26 January 2024.
Current problems
The Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and the OBC, both produced by WECA, highlighted the existing challenges for sustainable travel in the Somer Valley. These include:
- a large reliance on cars along the A37 & A367 and both routes are frequently heavily congested
- journey times are too long because buses get stuck in traffic
- access to bus stops is hampered by footways being overgrown or non-existent
- lack of safe footways and crossing points
- cycling along the A37/A367 can be challenging even for confident cyclists due to traffic volumes, including large vehicles passing close and travelling at high speeds
- there is also little infrastructure that links cycling and bus services together along these routes making interchange between the two difficult
- narrow sections of the A37 through Pensford and Temple Cloud are not wide enough for large vehicles to pass each other, leading to delays for all traffic
- Farrington Gurney and Temple Cloud have air quality issues (declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs))
- collisions occur on the fast sections and junctions of both routes
What the scheme means for you
The Somer Valley Links scheme will be:
- making catching the bus, walking, and cycling easier by offering improved bus infrastructure and delivering safe, easy-to-use walking and cycling facilities
- ensuring bus journey times are reduced
- creating or improving walking, wheeling, and cycling routes which connect to communities along the corridor
- supporting opportunities for regeneration and economic growth along the corridor
- improving options for interchange between/with sustainable modes, through the provision of scalable Mobility Hubs along the corridor
- making alternative modes more attractive, enabling reduced car use, and supporting improved public health, as well as better air quality and cutting carbon emissions along the corridor
Proposed improvements
We are proposing to deliver the following improvements, however these are subject to further refinement through consultation with the wider public and other stakeholders.
Expand the sections below to find out more about each type of improvement.
Mobility hubs are places that bring together a host of transport options in one place, including shared transport such as car clubs and e-scooters with public transport and active travel modes.
We are proposing 8 mobility hubs, to be located at key locations along the A37, A362, and A367 corridors where demand to switch between modes of transport is likely to be high. This includes locations at:
- Pensford
- Temple Cloud
- Farrington Gurney
- Midsomer Norton
- Radstock
- Peasedown St John
- Odd Down (improvements to the P&R site)
- Bear Flat (Bath)
We are proposing walking, wheeling, and cycling route improvements, including:
- on the northern side of the A362 from Farrington Gurney towards Midsomer Norton
- A367 Wellsway (Bath)
- quiet routes for Old Mills Lane, between Peasedown St John and Shoscombe and Littleton, and parallel to the A37 connecting Whitchurch to Hallatrow
It should be noted that two proposed routes in Midsomer Norton have been separated into their own project (the Midsomer Norton & Westfield walking, wheeling and cycling links project)
We are proposing bus lanes and junction improvements to improve bus reliability and journey times, including:
- A37/Staunton Lane (Whitchurch)
- A37 northbound bus lane on the approach to Whitchurch
- A37/A39 junction
- A37/A362 junction
- A367/Bath Road (Peasedown St John)
- Odd Down roundabout (Bath)
- the A367 approach along the Wellsway as far as the A36 Churchill gyratory (Bath)
Bus stop improvements to 10 pairs of bus stop locations including:
- Pensford Bridge, Pensford
- Rogers Close, Clutton
- Paulwood Road, Temple Cloud
- Ham Lane/Main Street, Farrington Gurney
- Smallcombe Rpoad, Clandown
- Red Post, Peasedown St John
- The Beeches, Odd Down
- Devonshire Buildings, The Wellsway, Bath
- Bear Flat A, B and C, Bath
- Oldfield Road, Bath
Keep informed
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Project development timeline
The timeline below shows the lifecycle of the Somer Valley Links scheme project.
It includes any current (active) stage, those already completed, as well as expected future stages.
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WECA public consultation
CompleteBetween June and August 2023 the West of England Combined Authority ran a public consultation. Read the consultation feedback report on their website.
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Outline business case approval
CompleteCouncillor Sarah Warren approved the outline business case.
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Public consultation
On targetThis consultation gives you an opportunity to have your say on our proposals for Somer Valley Links. We will publish a feedback report after this period of consultation.
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Amend designs
On targetWe will consider your feedback and make relevant changes to our proposals.
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Full business case approval
On targetIt is expected that the full business case will be approved.
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Construction
On targetIt is expected that construction will begin in 2025.