MORE than £450,000 of funding has been approved towards the improvement of cycle and footpaths between North Petherton and Bridgwater.

Three North Petherton councillors and Bridgwater Town councillor Leigh Redman attend the West Somerset Council to support recommendations made by the Hinkley Point Planning Obligations Board in respect of the Community Infrastructure Mitigation (CIM) applications.

At Thursday's meeting the cabinet unanimously agreed to recommend payments of £460,000 towards the total project costs of £1.2million.

The cabinet’s recommendation is the latest step before the projects are put before the full West Somerset Council meeting for final approval on Thursday, September 21. The remaining costs will be funded from a wide range of council and partner contributions.

The schemes will see a new footbridge and cycle way over Stockmoor Rhyne and pedestrian crossings on Wills Road.

These improvements will link to existing cycle ways and footpaths allowing cyclist and pedestrians to get to Bridgwater College and the railway station without having to compete with HGVs.

Richard Brown, county councillor for North Petherton, said: “We represented a united team of county, district and town councillors to support the applications.

"Without the improvements, pedestrians and cyclists will be forced to compete with the increased traffic that the Hinkley Point construction will bring. It’s also a great opportunity to encourage people to get more active and not to rely on their cars.”

Anne Fraser of Sedgemoor District council added: “We had a good hearing and the cabinet listened to our concerns about road safety and the opportunities the development would bring. The support of the cabinet was very much welcomed.”

Mandy Chilcott, lead member for resources and chair of the Hinkley Point Planning and Obligations Board said: “It is good to see that all levels of local government have come to speak in support of these two applications. They are both important projects for North Petherton and Bridgwater and I am very happy to recommend the cabinet’s approval to the full council.”

The Hinkley Point Planning Obligations Board allocates money from the Community Impact Mitigation Fund secured through the Section 106 legal agreement for the site preparation works at Hinkley Point.