Decision details

(1)  To include the Midsomer Norton & Westfield Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme as a separate project within the CRSTS programme, following the rebaselining in summer 2023.

(2)  To delegate authority to the Director of Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the s151 Officer, to formally accept grants from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority relating to this scheme.

(3)  To approve the capital budget of £180k to develop the Full Business Case (FBC) for the scheme.

(4)  To agree that the provisional capital budget for the scheme is £1.25m for delivery/ construction, as reflected in the Council’s budget-setting report (February 2024).

The Midsomer Norton and Westfield WWC Links project was decoupled from the Somer Valley Links (SVL) project for development during the Outline Business Case stage (OBC). This was confirmed through the CRSTS rebaselining exercise in summer 2023, as a separate project with grant allocation attached.

An added advantage of this approach is the potential for more rapid development and delivery, bringing greater travel options to residents in Midsomer Norton and Westfield more quickly than if the scheme remained as part of the wider strategic corridor project.

The option to retain the project within the Somer Valley Links strategic transport corridor was considered in the rebaselining exercise but this was deemed to risk non-delivery of these routes due to the lack of fit with the strategic corridor objectives.

The option for the Council to progress the scheme with capital budget allocations through the Capital programme budget-setting process was considered unaffordable and unviable amongst other Council priorities.