Currently, more than a quarter of commuting trips to work in B&NES are less than 2km, and half are less than 5km. With the right active travel infrastructure in place, walking, wheeling and cycling could be used for many of these trips.
The importance of walking, wheeling, and cycling, or ‘active travel’ as an affordable and accessible mode of transport has become increasingly apparent over recent years.
It has excellent benefits for Bath & North East Somerset, allowing for healthier people and places and greater connectivity across the district.
The Somer Valley Links project is proposing:
- More than 5km of footway improvements
- 3km of new footways
- More than a kilometre in new cycleways
- 8 pedestrian crossing improvements
- Around 2.5km in new shared use paths
- 25 new pedestrian crossings
The proposals range from the widening of footways and new shared use paths to safer pedestrian crossings and new cycleways.
Odd Down - Somer Valley - Whitchurch
- A37 connecting Whitchurch to Hallatrow – a mixture of quiet lanes where cyclists are mixed with traffic, and shared use paths adjacent to the carriageway. A removal of four parking space will be necessary on the approach to Whitchurch.
- A362 from Farrington Gurney towards Midsomer Norton – a shared use path connection from Main Street in Farrington Gurney to the proposed Somer Valley Links Enterprise Zone scheme, which provides a connection into Midsomer Norton
Farrington Gurney current
Farrington Gurney proposal- Old Mills Lane –a quiet route open to walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding only which connects residents from Paulton to the shared use path proposed alongside the A362, providing a route to both Farrington Gurney and Midsomer Norton
- Braysdown Lane and Hang Hill – quiet routes connecting Peasedown St John to National Cycle Route 24 and Shoscombe
We are also proposing junction improvements at key locations between Odd Down and Whitchurch in order to improve bus journey times and the ease of crossing for pedestrians.
- A37 Staunton Lane – Whitchurch
- Signalised pedestrian crossings
- Bus priority through the traffic signals
- A367 / Bath Road – Peasedown St John
- Speed reduction to encourage slower speeds along the A367 and allow buses to exit Bath Road more easily
A367 Wellsway – Odd Down roundabout to Churchill Gyratory
- Reduction of the carriageway to encourage slower speeds
- Two-way cycle facility between Midford Road to Greenway Lane
- Widened footways
- Protected parking bays
- Four new signalised crossing points
Wellsway current
Wellsway proposal
Technical drawings
Please click on the links below for detailed drawings. These drawings show concept/preliminary designs proposals and details are subject to change. The proposals have been developed to show the potential location of features in plan. Further work is required to determine final proposals for the following phases, as well as its deliverability and affordability.
Active Travel Masterplan
The Somer Valley Links project is part of our emerging Active Travel Masterplan, a comprehensive plan that sets out the existing and future network of active travel infrastructure. Consultation took place over the summer 2024 and aims to enable walking, cycling, and other forms of active travel, ensuring safer, healthier, and more accessible transportation options for everyone. It will support all types of journeys including commuting, education, leisure, and tourism.
View the Active Travel Masterplan page to find out more