Work starts on Two Tunnels scheme

By pwiltshire

Work has finally begun on a £1.9 million scheme to create a new four-mile cycling and walking route through old railway tunnels to the south of Bath.

Excavators have moved in at the disused Devonshire Tunnel at Bear Flat to signal the beginning of the project, which has been four years in the making.

The scheme will also open up the Combe Down Tunnel to create the Two Tunnels route between Midford and Bath.

Contractors will dig out and reopen the Devonshire Tunnel's northern end for the scheme which has been championed by the Two Tunnels Group, sustainable transport charity Sustrans, and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Sustrans chief executive Malcolm Shepherd said: "After all the support and the years of campaigning, we finally get to see the diggers on site and this amazing route through these tunnels will become a reality that anyone can use.

"We want to help people make more local journeys by foot or bike and this route will show that by putting a good, safe, accessible route in place, we can get more people travelling sustainably every day."

The council's cabinet member for transport Councillor Charles Gerrish (Con, Keynsham North) said: "Walking and cycling will be made more attractive by this project and Bath and North East Somerset Council is pleased to be financially supporting it.

"The community support for this scheme is extensive and many people contacted me to lobby for the council funding. It is excellent news that work is starting. This is a positive move forward for the promotion of sustainable transport."

Former councillor Gitte Dawson, who chairs a steering group which brings the council, Sustrans and the Two Tunnels Group together in implementing the scheme, said: "Lots of people have done a great deal of campaigning, fundraising, planning and publicising to get to this point. I look forward to cycling through the tunnels myself next year."

The path follows the line of an old railway route which closed 44 years ago and will also renovate the disused Tucking Mill viaduct near Midford.

It is due to open by the end of next year and is one of a number of Sustrans schemes across the UK being funded by a £50 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The fund will contribute £1 million while the council will be contributing £400,000 to the scheme with the rest of the money coming from fundraising efforts such as the King Bladud's Pigs Project.

More on the scheme can be found at www.twotunnels.org.uk