Environment section.qxp_Layout 1 24/03/2022 16:49 Page 6
MENDIP TIMES
Somerset Circle a step closer to completion A NEW section of a multi-user path in Dulcote, near Wells, has been declared officially open at a special celebration attended by Annie Maw, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. It marked the latest stage in a key section of the Strawberry Line which forms part of the Somerset Circle, now under construction. The path connects Wells to the Charlie Bigham’s food kitchen at Dulcote Quarry. When completed, the Somerset Circle will form a 76-mile, traffic-free circuit. Mendip District Council invested £70,000 towards the works which were commissioned by multi-user path developers Greenways and Cycleroutes, as well as a further £15,000 from Charlie Bigham’s S106 money. Preparatory clearance work was completed by Strawberry Line volunteers, who have taken on the responsibility for maintenance of the path as well as tree planting. Additional planting, landscaping and benches are to be installed shortly. The overall project was completed by local contractors, Goldings. As well as Mrs Maw – who is a wheelchair user – guests included council
Guests at the official opening of the path at Dulcote
chair Helen Sprawson-White and other council representatives, Mendip Hills AONB, Somerset County Council, Charlie Bigham’s and Strawberry Line volunteers. Ros Wyke, leader of Mendip District Council, welcomed everyone to the opening and presented the volunteer lead, Richard Jones, with a range of landscaping tools. Councillor Wyke said: “Connecting this section of path was an important milestone and is the result of commitment and collaboration over many years.
“The grand opening was an exciting opportunity for all stakeholders to meet and see the results of our hard work. “It has inspired us to continue with our goals of opening other sections of the Strawberry Line in Mendip and beyond.” Mrs Maw and John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans and who now runs Greenways, planted a hornbeam tree at the site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy and also to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mendip Hills AONB.
For details, visit: www.thestrawberryline.org.uk
Quarry protestors set up camp
A GROUP of people opposed to the reopening of Westdown Quarry, near Nunney, have entered their third month of living in a protest camp on the site.
Protestors gather for the walk to Westdown Quarry
Richard Mawer, one of the leading campaigners against the proposals
PAGE 6 • MENDIP TIMES • APRIL 2022
The small group, which includes activists from the HS2 line, say they are also opposed to Hinkley C and the Stonehenge tunnel project. Hanson, which operates Whatley Quarry, wants to reopen Westdown to extract 160 million tonnes of limestone at a rate of two million tonnes a year.
It already has an existing planning consent to resume quarrying but needs to consolidate and update its proposals to meet current regulations. Around 100 people gathered at Asham Wood, next door to Westdown, for a second, peaceful march to the edge of the quarry. Next to Asham
