Plans have been formally submitted to reopen a former railway cutting in Shepton Mallet as a path for cyclists and walkers.

A planning application has been submitted for the reopening of the former railway cutting to form a link to the National Cycle Network (Strawberry Line) on land to the south of the Mendip District Council Offices, Cannard's Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, by Sara Skirton on behalf of the council.

This plan is for an extension to the Shepton Mallet Railway Path - Millennium Way at the Mendip offices to Station Road and Tesco.

The application proposes alterations to the junction of the Millennium Way with the Collett Park entrance, a route through the Mendip car park, and the construction of a footpath/cycleway in the disused railway cutting between the car park and Station Road.

This section of around 200 metres in length would complete a continuous length of approximately 900 metres between Station Road and Tadley Acres.

The route through the car park would see a loss of 22 spaces, which Mendip says it is evaluating due to the current increase in homeworking, and then it would pass under the Cannard's Grave Road Bridge, before entering Station Road after first crossing the existing footway.

The proposed path will be for shared and equal pedestrian/cycle use in the same manner as the existing Millennium Way Railway Path.

This will provide a smooth all-weather path with a sealed surface with gradients no greater than 1:20, suitable for all types of everyday journeys.

Mendip recently revealed the five missing links it was focusing on, including two sections from Shepton Mallet, to enable car-free travel across the district - you can read more about that HERE.

Other planning applications in the Shepton Mallet area that have been submitted to Mendip District Council this week include:

Erection of a one-bedroom almshouse on ground floor and first-floor meeting room at 23 Peter Street, Shepton Mallet, has been applied for by Mr Jeff Curtis.

Application for a non-material amendment to permission 2019/2296/FUL for the building to be steel frame construction with box profile sheeting on three sides to match the approved roof box profile at Mendip Golf Club, Golf Links Lane, Ashwick, has been made by Mr Stuart Disney.

Planning applications in the Shepton Mallet area that have been decided this week by Mendip District Council include:

The erection of a three-bedroom single-storey agricultural workers dwelling at Burnt House Farm, Thickthorn Lane, Ston Easton, by Mr Peter King has been approved.

Erection of a wooden building for use as a hair salon ancillary to the main house at 16 Neales Way, Evercreech, by Mrs Caroline Honnor has been approved.

Construction of food grade warehouse and offices to replace existing industrial building with associated access, yards and parking at Willmotts Business Park, Ball Lane to Piers Road, Waterlip, by Mr A Stott has been approved.

Change of use from a barn to a dwellinghouse (part retrospective) at Barn Farm, Tadhill Lane, Stoke St Michael, by Mrs Janina Conrad has been approved.

Internal re-arrangement including removal and reinstatement, removal of lean-to extension and greenhouse, removal of brick chimney and rear chimney stack at Manor House, Pylle Lane, Pylle, has been approved.

Application for approval of details reserved by conditions 6 (hard and soft landscaping), 8 (construction management plan), 9 (tree protection plan) on planning consent 2020/0581/FUL at Lambrook Pig Unit, Wyke Farm to Snagg Farm, Lamyatt, by Mr Jason Fewell has been approved.

Erection of a replacement single-storey lean-to extension to dwelling at Mildura, Weymouth Road, Evercreech, by Mrs Hannah Condry has been approved.

Creation of driveway and parking at 1 Sunnymead, Oakhill, has been approved.

Erection of two-storey side extension at 15 Kingscombe, Gurney Slade, by Mr Paul Maggs has been approved.

Erection of garden room at The Old Vicarage, Hay Street, Ston Easton, by Mr Wildy and Miss Beresford has been approved.

Application for prior notification of agricultural development for a proposed building (re-siting of existing agricultural building) at Brook Hall, Leighton Lane, Evercreech, by Mr Simon Heal has been withdrawn.