Decision details

The Somer Valley Links project includes 27 interventions along 23 miles of highway from Bath via Radstock and Farrington Gurney into Whitchurch. The project will improving walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure whilst improving reliability of buses using the route. The interventions vary from bus stop improvements, mobility hubs, pavement improvements and new cycling routes. The build phase for these works are planned for the 2026/27 financial year to utilise the funding allocated by the Mayoral Combined Authority. A number of the interventions will need to be constructed outside of school term time due to the likely disruption to traffic flows the works are likely to cause.

To fully approve an uplift of £1.8m to existing budget to complete an FBC (full business case) for sustainable cycling and walking links, across the Somer Valley. This will be fully funded by grant awarded by WECA, issued by the Dept for Transport, as part of the regional CRSTS programme (city regional sustainable transport scheme.) An FBC will be submitted to WECA by October 2025.

To not proceed with the contract approval the ongoing development of all of the schemes in the Somer Valley Links route would result in the designs not be completed and therefore not built in the current funding window.