Strawberry Line Path Expands with New Section Opening

The prospects for a pedestrian and cycle route, established on the alignment of a disused railway in Somerset, appear promising after the inauguration of its most recent segment. The Strawberry Line is anticipated to soon offer a continuous route stretching from Yatton railway station to Collett Park in Shepton Mallet. Presently, the most extensive continuous segment extends from Yatton to Station Road in Cheddar, primarily utilizing the former trackbed of the Cheddar Valley railway line. A representative for Shepton Mallet Town Council stated that unauthorized entry before the official opening “risks the landowner pulling out of phase two of this section, so we appreciate your patience and support”. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that various additional sections located east of Cheddar have been completed by volunteers and contractors, supported by grant funding. This newly established West Shepton section aims to link two previous segments, which were completed in March 2023, utilizing funds allocated by Mendip District Council just prior to its dissolution. For residents residing west of the town, the path commences at Stump Cross Bridge on Ridge Road, traversing local agricultural land before reaching the West Shepton Playing Fields, which hosts the town’s skate park, pump track, and football club. Subsequently, individuals can utilize the recently installed 15ft (4.5m) bridge, which was put in place in mid-October and descends gradually towards the Strode Way play area. The Shepton Mallet Town Council spokesperson further stated, “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.” “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.” Over the forthcoming 18 months, additional segments will be incorporated into the Strawberry Line, advancing the entire route towards its finalization. For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story suggestions can be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.