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New section of former railway opens up to walkers

Somerset Council Councillors Richard Wilkins and Ros Wyke wearing yellow hi-vis vests and hard hats, standing with Strawberry Line volunteers on the new footbridge over the B3136 West Shepton, in Shepton Mallet. Somerset Council
The Strawberry Line will run uninterrupted from Yatton railway station to Collett Park in Shepton Mallet, once building is completed

The future of a walking and cycling path along the route of a former Somerset railway line is looking bright following the opening of its newest section.

The Strawberry Line path will soon run uninterrupted from Yatton railway station to Collett Park in Shepton Mallet.

The longest unbroken stretch currently runs from Yatton to Station Road in Cheddar, largely following the trackbed of the former Cheddar Valley railway line.

A Shepton Mallet Town Council spokesperson said any trespassing prior to opening "risks the landowner pulling out of phase two of this section, so we appreciate your patience and support".

Somerset Council The new footbridge being lowered into place over the B3136 West Shepton In Shepton Mallet. It is a long metal bridge painted blue. Beside it is a red crane lowering it into place, with several workers in yellow hi-vis vests directing its placement. In the foreground there is a brown sign, which reads Strawberry Line with strawberries in a clump.Somerset Council
A new footbridge for the Strawberry Line was lifted into place near Shepton Mallet in October

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, several other sections have been delivered further east of Cheddar by volunteers and contractors through grant funding.

The new West Shepton section is designed to provide a connection between two earlier sections that were delivered in March 2023, using funding set aside by Mendip District Council shortly before its abolition.

For those living to the west of the town, the route begins at Stump Cross Bridge on Ridge Road, winding past local farms to the West Shepton Playing Fields, home to the town’s skate park, pump track and football club.

From there, residents can cross the new 15ft (4.5m) bridge, which was installed in mid-October and which gently slopes down towards the Strode Way play area.

Daniel Mumby The Strawberry Line footpath near Ridge Road in Shepton Mallet. It is a wide tarmacked path with a metal fence lining either side, behind which are green fields and trees.Daniel Mumby
It is hoped a full Somerset car-free route along the Strawberry Line will be completed in the near future

“We need to ask everyone to keep out of the whole section for your own safety and to respect what is private land until the work is complete, which will be a week or two yet," the Shepton Mallet Town Council spokesperson added.

“We are deeply grateful for the landowners who make our extensions possible, so it’s important we all respect their privacy and active farm operations when crossing their land, by sticking to the marked paths.”

Within the next 18 months, further additions will be made to the Strawberry Line, moving the full route closer to completion.

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