THE £637,000 Steam Coast Trail was set to move nearer to reality yesterday (Thursday), when West Somerset Council’s planning committee was being recommended to approve a change of use for land needed for the second phase of the scheme.

The first stage of the route – from Blue Anchor to Dunster Beach -was given the go-ahead in 2012.

Planning officers recommended yesterday’s committee meeting grant permission for a one-kilometre path north of the West Somerset railway line linking Washford and Old Cleeve and that the work should start within three years.

The project, which will eventually link Williton with Minehead, is part of a scheme to build a 36-kilometre network of paths for cyclists, walkers, runners and wheelchair users.

Supporters of the scheme claim it will boost tourism, could create around 140 direct and indirect jobs and generate around £7 million a year of economic benefit.

At yesterday’s meeting, the committee was told that nearly 70 letters of support had been received. The trail had been compared with the Tarka Trail in Devon and hailed as a safe alternative to the A39.

West Somerset Railway has welcomed the leisure route as an excellent tourist opportunity which would benefit the heritage line.

Old Cleeve Parish Council was also in general support of the proposal.

District council case officer Karen Wray told the committee that the path would be three metres wide with a porous asphalt surface. A stone-filled ditch would prevent water running on to the nearby railway line.

The path would cross two field accesses, and a steep drop in ground levels at the Old Cleeve end would require the construction of a 90-metre ramp.

Ms Wray said: “Where the path joins the pubic highway at Old Cleeve, a barrier of railway sleepers will be formed to slow users and position them correctly as they approach the junction.

“The path will be separated from the closest dwellings by the railway line so there will be no direct overlooking.

“Given experience from similar developments, the nature of these proposals does not give rise to significant levels of noise generation and is considered a quiet and informal form of recreation.

“For these reasons it is considered that the development will not affect the amenities of the surrounding area.

“The amount of construction required to create the path is minimal and will have no impact on the surrounding area.

“Creating an off-road route would remove cyclists and walkers from the hazardous A39, providing a much safer alternative.”