News
Somerset County Council have closed a stretch of footpath running from the Leisure Centre on Corams Lane, along the private drive leading to Linden House (WG 17/34). Their notice is here.
Apparently divers have surveyed a number of bridges in the County for safety. This one, not obviously a bridge, has a culvert under which is cracked - further work is required to determine any risk to the structure of the drive.
Confusingly, cars might still use the drive as the Council only has jurisdiction over the footpath running in tandem.
The closed section finishes at the stream, where a path to Tonedale is already closed due to a dangerously narrow concrete beam for crossing the water. Avoid!
Footpath from Corams Lane to entrance of Linden House drive (WG 17/34) still closed due to structural defects in the bridge over culvert.
There's no sign of repairs yet.
Footpath Dark Lane (WG 17/5) emerges onto the A38. Pedestrians crossing the road to take the footpath up to the monument are urged to follow the new sign to cross. Previously, folks walked alongside the road to an opening which has poor vsibility, leading to accidents in the past. Please be safe.
Most path users with dogs dispose of their dog waste appropriately. A minority do not appear to accept this responsibility, and the evidence is on the path behind Swallowfields by Longforth Farm. Featured recently in Welly News, piles of these bags have to be disposed of by council workers and the volunteers who trim excessive foliage. Can you imagine the feelings of these folk, for whom it's their job, or because they take a pride in maintaining the path.
Problems for users on the path running from Gay Street, through Cades and emerging onto the B3187 at Ken Coles agricultural site have finally been resolved. Firstly, the section starting at Gay Street, WG 17/19, officially runs across several dwellings and gardens. Second, the section originally running through fields now takes a circuitous meander through Cades. The final section, WG 14/6, leads straight through Coles busy and dangerous site. Now waymarkers are in place indicating a permissive detour, starting further west on the B3187 on refurbished steps by a low bridge. They continue through Cades, where a dangerous and obsolete stile has been removed, and into the playing field by Gay Street.
Our thanks to the county and town councils for progressing this work.
Couple of complaints lately refer to WG17/17: the southern section of this path runs north to Longforth Estate, parallel to Parklands Road.
It is officially closed by County Council in favour of a new road which also runs parallel. Diversion signs are at either and clearly shown on the map, Google 'Somerset roam'. Yes, it is now completely overgrown.
It's a relief for us volunteers, the path required frequent overgrowth clearing from hedging and residents gardens.
Note the northern section of WG 17/17 is also closed - an open rail crossing adjacent to family housing too hazardous. Walkers now divert west to join WG 17/16.
June 2020
After being 'locked down by Somerset County Counci, we were released in the middle of June and have been active since. If your favourite path is not yet fully clear it will be soon.20 Paragraph
August 2020
Wellington Town Council has kindly decided to sponsor the website this year, under review. So please keep visiting!
April 2021
Good to see the paths network has been very well used during lockdowns.
I stand down from Parish Paths Liaison Officer at the end of this month. Steve Saunders, a member of the Basins team, will take over, supported by five volunteers. Great news for continued access.
This website will continue while we resolve how best to provide it. You may be interested to know it has a fairly consistent hit rate of ten to thirteen per day.
May 2021
Steve has now taken over, I wish him and his willing team much fun in their work.
Those familiar with problems over footpath from Cades to Ken Coles' yard will hopefully be delighted by the new permissive arrangemnt agreed between Ken and County. In particular a boggy and perennially overgrown short stretch in bypassed.
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