Over £3.5 million for sustainable travel across the Somer Valley

Close-up of a person securing a bicycle with a yellow lock in a cycle parking area. Several bicycles are parked closely together, with the focus on the person's hands fastening the lock around the bike frame.

Residents across the Somer Valley will benefit from better public transport infrastructure and safer, more accessible routes for walking, wheeling and cycling, as more than £3.5 million has been confirmed for the first phase of the Somer Valley Links programme this autumn.

Residents across the Somer Valley will benefit from better public transport infrastructure and safer, more accessible routes for walking, wheeling and cycling, as more than £3.5 million has been confirmed for the first phase of the Somer Valley Links programme this autumn.

£2.9 million from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, and £720,000 from Bath and North East Somerset Council using S106 developer agreements and other capital funding sources, will be used to improve travel choices and provide greater connectivity between the Somer Valley, Bath and Bristol.

The scheme is designed to provide people with more attractive alternatives to car travel, helping tackle congestion on the A37, A367 and A362, while making everyday journeys easier, safer and more sustainable. Following public consultation on the full Somer Valley Links proposals in 2025, a phased approach to delivery was agreed; this first phase will deliver:

  • Three new travel hubs at Farrington Gurney, Midsomer Norton and Peasedown St John – located at main bus stops and with useful facilities such as secure cycle parking, making it more convenient to connect with local bus services and travel without the car.
  • Upgrading the northbound bus stop at Clutton, featuring a new bus shelter with real time information and seating, plus a signalised crossing point for easier access.
  • A traffic-free quiet route on Old Mills Lane, giving walkers and cyclists a more pleasant link from Paulton to the A362 and future Enterprise Zone.
  • Widened pavements, new crossing points and reduced speed limits at key locations, notably the Bath Road/A367 junction at Peasedown.

Works will start in the autumn, with detailed construction dates announced nearer the time.

The Somer Valley is one of five growth zones highlighted in the regional Growth Strategy, with the potential to create a modern zone for rural innovation and sustainable industry.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“I’m delighted that people in places including Clutton, Midsomer Norton, Farrington Gurney and Peasedown St John will be getting better access to sustainable transport choices through our joint investment. As one of our region’s key Growth Zones, enabling more sustainable travel in the Somer Valley is crucial to help deliver our ambition for the area as a centre for green business, community growth, and regeneration.

“Projects like this will show what can be achieved when the combined authority and councils work together, laying the foundations for a better-connected West of England and a transport network that people can trust.”

Councillor Lucy Hodge, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:

“This is great news for the Somer Valley. Securing this funding means we can start delivering the improvements local people have told us they want, from better bus facilities to safer routes for walking, wheeling and cycling.

“They will make everyday journeys easier, safer and more reliable for communities across Clutton, Farrington Gurney, Midsomer Norton, Paulton and Peasedown St John. This is an important step towards giving people real travel choices and supporting the long‑term future of the Somer Valley as a well‑connected and sustainable place to live and work.”

Over half a billion pounds was awarded to the West of England through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), to improve sustainable travel across the region. Funding for the first part of phase one has now been confirmed following the Mayoral Combined Authority’s approval of the Business Case bid.

A further three-quarters of a billion pounds was secured by the combined authority last year, to be invested from 2027. A new Transport Vision for the region, which set out the direction of travel for a better-connected West of England in support of the 10-year Growth Strategy, was published in February.

Original press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority