Progress in 2024

This year is going to be one in which we get down to real talking and, so far, it is going well.

It has always been our plan to build the path in phases starting at either end. I'm pleased to say the development at the Wellington end of the station and hundreds of houses offer great opportunities. Network Rail plan to have the station open by May 2026 at the latest, and part of that construction will be a haul-road on either side of the line. It looks likely that will remain in situ, which gives us a significant part of the phase 1 build at the western end.

At the eastern end, there is also industrial devekopment planned which offers similar opportunities. The new Taunton Town Council are hugely supportive of our ambitionbs and have already grant-aidid us with a small initial sum. We are hoping they will adopt a proposal through council to support us which paves the way for access along land they already manage on behalf of Somerset Council.

On behalf of our group, can I thank you for your continuing support, and can I also remind you we are conducting walks along the greenway (or as close as we can get to it) each month. The next is on 23rd March from Wellington to Taunton. it is about 8.5 miles of flat walking which might have had an opportunity to dry out over the next couple of weeks. Please join us if you can https://www.grandwesterngreenway.co.uk/events-1

Wlak the Greenway - new dates!

We have been taking groups of people to walk along the route of the Greenway, and they have proved to be very popular, even through the winter when the ground has been pretty soft underfoot.

Although we can't follow the route exactly, we are able to get close for much of it and we are sure from the feedback we've received that it is informative and interesting.

The route starts in Wellington close to the site of the new station, sets off along the canal and public footpaths until we end up in Taunton about four hours later. The terrain is flat, and we take a short break in Bradford on Tone.

We have added new dates for March, April and May, so join us whenever you can. It is free (unless you're feeling generous!) and we are sure you will enjoy the walk, the company and the views. Click here to sign up

As for progress with the Greenway, we are in acvtive discusions with councils and landowners at each end of the route. As you probably know, we hope to build this in stages from either end and eventually meet in the middle.

Although we have over 400 supporters, our 'committee' is small, and we are always on the lookout for skilled and experienced volunteers who can add to our skillset. This year is hugely important as we begin the real process of evaluating the route and having conversations with planners and landowners. If you have expertise you think you can lend to the group, please get in touch, and we will be pleased to hear from you.

Somerset Council supports the Greenway

It has been an interesting end to 2023 for the Grand Western Greenway. We held our inaugural meeting 12 months ago and set the following objectives for the year which felt pretty stretching at the time:

1. Recruit 250 supporters over the next six months

2. Engage with two landowners and negotiate a written commitment

3. Participate in the Sustainable Travel Between Wellington and Taunton study commissioned by Somerset Council

4. Raise £1500

5. Create publicity material to promote the campaign

6. Participate in one promotion event such as the Wellington Pop-Up shop

We described the first year as one in which we wanted to make friends with people, and we have certainly done that! Let's look at those objectives, and maybe you can decide how we've done.

1. Recruit 259 supporters. We have over 400 people subscribed to the campaign, and have recruited businesses ranging from small CICs to the largest employer in Somerset. Somerset NHS Trust and the Integrated Care Board as provider and commissioner recognise the enormous benefit to be had from ready access to nature and exercise. Do you reckon we can move that up to 1000 people this year?

2. We are actively engaged with two landowners, both of whom are having realistic and positive discussions with us about how they can best support the Greenway. There is a long way to go, but engagement and commitment are our touchstones for 2024.

3. We have participated in the unusual Somerset Council study. I say unusual because it came to a conclusion that they don't seem to support themselves. That was that the Council should build a path alongside the A38. This is despite it costing at least four times as much as a countryside path, is generally unpopular with all but a small group of travellers, and starts a mile from Wellington town centre and ends at least another mile from Taunton town centre. The Council acknowledges that they would be very unlikely to build such a path and therefore fully support the community-led Greenway. This support is extended to any number of Parish and Town Councils, as well as receiving the enthusiastic backing of County Councillors across the political spectrum.

4. We have raised in excess of £1500 pounds through the generosity of Taunton Town

5. Richard Huish College have taken the Greenway on as a project for their A level art and design students to develop the materials to promote the campaign. They have received their brief from us, and have a deadline to complete in time for our last objective....

6. We have the Pop-Up shop in Wellington Fore Street booked for a week in April!

Walk the Greenway

In addition to that, we have guided almost 100 people who have walked the Greenway with us, and will continue to do that every month for as long as people want to do so. Our next walk is on 20th January, so sign up if you want to join us. There is no cost, and the details are in the Events section of our website here