| Date
| News
|
| 10 Feb 2012 | We are planning a second Chain Gang working weekend for February 25/26th. Please see this page for more details. |
| 04 Feb 2012 | The first Chain Gang activity took place at Great Elm clearing the overgrown railway track in the direction of Frome. Please see this report. |
| 05 Jan 2012 | We are planning a Chain Gang working weekend early in February to clear the overgrown track at Great Elm on the first leg of the route towards Frome. |
| 02 Dec 2011 | We have received two very generous offers of use of land for the path. Other landowner discussions are continuing. |
| 01 Sep 2011 | Network Rail staff visited Frome to discuss our plans and made site visits. We received a positive response to our plans and we now need to make more detailed proposals for their consideration. |
| 11 Aug 2011 | Article appears in the Somerset Standard which may be viewed here. |
| 02 Aug 2011 | The rail operator on the Great Elm link is Mendip Rail. It is important we get their approval and co-operation. We have received an encouraging letter of support from them for which we are very grateful. |
| 06 Jul 2011 | We had a positive meeting with English Heritage in connection with the possibility of incorporating the medieval bridge at Murtry and the disused Dorset and Somerset canal aqueduct over the Mells river as viewable/accessible features of the route. |
| 30 May 2011 | In addition to the missing link between Great Elm and Frome, an opportunity has arisen to make progress on Frome's other missing link - a safe and easier route south to Longleat. We are actively pursuing this also. Please see this page |
| 04 May 2011 | We now have the invaluable help of John Grimshaw, the founder of Sustrans, who is actively advising and working with us. John has extensive experience in planning routes and taking this through to completion. He was responsible for the very first Sustrans route making use of the old railway between Bristol and Bath. We are very grateful for his help. |
| 17 Mar 2011 | A planning application has been received by Mendip District Council that would impinge on the first part of our riverside route out of town towards Great Elm. This application is for the old gas works at the bottom of Welshmill Lane. If the development is approved as it stands, our river side route of town will be compromised. Supporters have been informed and asked to comment on the application (number 2011/0025) directly to Mendip District Council using this form. |
| 04 Jan 2011 | The A362 crossing is the most difficult (and most expensive) aspect of this project. We are seeking ideas on how to construct this crossing in the most cost efficient way. |
| 08 Dec 2010 | A poster and a flyer are now available to print off and distribute. Please see Item 5 of this link for the download. |
| 06 Dec 2010 | Facebook site set up |
| 01 Dec 2010 | 1000th supporter signs petition |
| 19 Nov 2010 | In the meeting between Sustrans and Network Rail, the Network Rail representative went as far as he could to be helpful and did not rule out the possibility that part of the rail land could be used but the situation was rather complex. Because the railway would remain operational they may have to undertake all the work themselves or at least under their direct supervision. This would be costly and subsequent maintenance liabilities would need to be worked out. To obtain permission or "clearance" two stages are involved the first being in principle where all interested parties including the train operator would be consulted and the second being the practical work. Fees (unknown at present) have to be paid before either would be undertaken. Our conclusion is that it is therefore probably better to investigate off-rail options first. |
| 18 Nov 2010 | Rupert Crosbee from Sustrans having an informal meeting with Network Rail to understand the principle issues from Network Rail's point of view. |
| 17 Nov 2010 | Meeting held between Geoff Pell, Jane Llewellyn (Frome Town Council), Jane Sharp (Mendip District Council), Dr Mark Vose, and Cllr Maggy Daniell where it was agreed the land ownership issues would be investigated to progress the meadows part of the route between Welshmill and Jacks Lane. Upgrading the existing public footpath to a cycleway would be far easier with the land owner's co-operation, and would form a worthwhile link on its own. |