Efforts to complete a key stretch of a long-distance Somerset cycle route have stalled amid a row over a former railway bridge in Shepton Mallet.

The Strawberry Line currently runs from Yatton railway station to Labourham Way in Cheddar and is planned to extend to Collett Park in Shepton Mallet. But progress on a crucial "missing link" under Ridge Road could be blocked by the Historic Railways Estate (HRE), part of National Highways.

A pedestrian and cycle bridge over the B3136 West Shepton was installed in October 2024, linking the town centre with Ridge Road on Shepton's south-west edge. To push the route further west towards Dulcote, campaigners need access through an arch beneath Stump Cross Bridge.

The bridge once carried traffic over the Cheddar Valley railway line before its closure in the mid-1960s. The arches were later filled in by HRE in 2013, creating bat habitats and strengthening the structure for farm traffic.

Mick Fletcher, chairman of the Strawberry Line Society, said only one of the three arches was left unfilled – but it remains inaccessible.

"Two of the arches have been infilled with bat hotels. Fortunately for us, the third arch was not filled in – it is not currently accessible, but it wouldn't take very much to dig it out," he said.

"The only thing that's stopping us is an access under this bridge."

Volunteers have already completed sections of the route between Ridge Road and Collett Park, and fencing has been installed along Mill Lane. A small plot of land has also been secured to enable the path to pass under Ridge Road if the arch is opened.

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Mr Fletcher said the group had reached agreement with neighbouring landowners but could not move forward without HRE's consent.

"HRE acquired all the bits of British Rail that nobody else wanted, and their remit appears to be to spend as little money as possible but make sure nobody gets killed," he said.

"There's no mention in its remit of the potential use of these structures to enable people to move around the country safely."

Ridge Road carries agricultural vehicles but is also used by drivers avoiding congestion on the A371, and becomes particularly busy during Glastonbury Festival.

Mr Fletcher said previous collaboration with HRE had allowed the route to pass under the A371 near Tesco and through the Windsor Hill tunnels. He said around 120,000 trips a year are recorded on the Shepton section.

He stressed the group was committed to protecting wildlife, including bats.

"HRE shouldn't disturb the bats without getting a licence from Natural England – and we're with that," he said.

"We don't believe in doing anything silly that would jeopardise the bats."

Somerset Council is expected to consider further grant funding for the Strawberry Line and the wider Somerset Circle project in late March, according to its executive forward plan.

Mr Fletcher said work on the Ridge Road section could begin in the summer if an agreement is reached. He confirmed local MP Tessa Munt had been briefed, but said the group hoped to resolve matters without political escalation.

HRE project manager Matthew Irwin said discussions were ongoing.

"We are still considering all options for the structure and working with all stakeholders, including trying to gather further safety data on the current crossing," he said.

"An options study on the structure, weighing the ecological and safety impacts of the potential options, has been provided by our consultants and we're in the process of reviewing it."

He added that HRE would continue working with Somerset Council, the Strawberry Line Society and Greenways and Cycle Routes, with any joint decision to be announced "in due course".

Reporting: LDRS/Daniel Mumby

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