May 15, 2024: Frome’s Missing Links charity received a massive boost in their efforts to raise funds to complete a new active travel path this week. Frome and District Wheelers have donated £5,000 towards the surfacing of a new 1.3km path, which connects the end of the Colliers Way path at Great Elm to Elliots Lane.
“We are incredibly grateful for this important donation. It’s fantastic that Frome and District Wheelers have helped us in this way. Hopefully we can soon make a smoother route for them and other path users,” commented Richard Ackroyd, Chair of Frome’s Missing Links.
The new path makes use of an old GWR railway track that ran between Radstock and Frome. The plan is to eventually connect Frome to Radstock and beyond. “This new stretch of path is currently open to the public, however the surface is made up of old railway ballast, which is fine for walking on, but terrible for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, horse riders and non mountain bike cyclists,” continued Richard. “We want to create a high quality route that can be used by everyone for leisure and for work. By completing this section, active travellers can already avoid several hills and traffic hot spots and the remaining gap to Frome is now less than 1.5km.”
Darren Chapman, Secretary of Frome and District Wheelers added, “It was a very good morning and a lovely opportunity to meet some of the volunteers who have been working on the path. We hope that this can kick start the funding needed to complete it.”
Frome’s Missing Links is working with a range of Active Travel organisations in the area and together the aim is to create a 76 mile traffic free “Somerset Circle” of active travel paths that will connect towns across Somerset using the old railway network as a framework.
Frome and District Wheelers Club was formed in 1925 first as a cycle touring club then post war as an active Time Trialling club. Anyone can join at www.britishcycling.org.uk/club/profile/3713/frome-and-district-wheelers