It has been a long-held ambition of mine, together with many others in the local community to have a cycleway running between Wellington and Taunton adjacent to the extremely busy A38.

Crucially this would make cycling along this route safer, it would encourage more people to get out of their cars and onto bikes thereby reducing pollution from vehicles but also it will help to bring obvious health and well-being benefits to those cycling. There could be spin offs for local businesses too as data indicates that cyclists are more likely to shop local.

A vital link could also be made with the proposed Wellington Rail station. Plans for this station are progressing well thanks to a co-ordinated approach through the Rail group which I am delighted to co-chair, as well as significant Government support and it makes sense to develop a cycleway that will access the new station.  

The timing is right to push for this cycleway with Government committed to improving public transport links and recognising the important role cycling can play in the decarbonising agenda. The Autumn Budget included £710 million of new active travel funding over the next three years to deliver hundreds of miles of high-quality segregated cycle lanes, provide cycle training for every child and deliver an e-bike support programme to make cycling more accessible. I aim to ensure Taunton Deane gets some of this funding! Active Travel England has already been launched by Government as their new cycling and walking executive agency and I plan to work with them to make the case for this much needed Wellington to Taunton cycle route.

I am therefore launching this petition to present to Government to demonstrate the real need and support for this vital cycleway. If you feel as passionately about the scheme as I do and can see what great benefits it would bring, whether you are a cyclist already, plan to become one or simply want to offer your support I would be grateful if you would please sign this petition. The more the better. Let’s set the wheels in motion!

What you need to do:

• Download and print the attached petition form (below)
• Provide your name, address, postcode and signature
• Pass the form to friends and neighbours
• Send the completed form to my constituency office at The Great Western Hotel Station Approach Taunton, TA1 1QW

**Please note parliamentary rules unfortunately mean these forms cannot be filled in online or sent in online and must instead be done by hand.**

• For more information, please email [email protected] or call 01823 443062.