TWO new sections of a West Somerset cycle route can be delivered in the near future after plans were approved, despite concerns raised by local farmers.

Lovell Homes is in the early stages of constructing its 350-homes Station Fields development, off Priest Street, Williton, along with commercial space, leisure facilities, and public open space.

Part of its agreement required nearly a mile of walking and cycling links to make it easier for new residents to access local schools and other facilities.

A planning application last November for the links, which will extend the Steam Coast Trail, was delayed when Somerset Council officers mishandled matters.

This week, the application was brought back to councillors and approved, although there were concerns remain as to how construction would work around the needs of local farmers.

The latest plans will see two short sections of the trail delivered, one leading from Station Fields toward the Orchard Brooks development, and one further east.

A new crossing will be provided in Doniford Road and a connection made between Williton and Watchet.

Both sections of path will be 13 feet wide to allow cyclists and mobility scooter users to pass safely in each direction and will be constructed using similar, low-impact methods to existing sections of the Steam Coast Trail.

The trail will eventually provide a safe route for walking, cycling, and wheeling between Minehead and Watchet via Blue Anchor, Washford, and Williton.

However, farmer Robert Dibble raised concerns about the timing of the paths’ construction, which he said would take a field out of use for at least a year.

Mr Dibble said: “I do not know what time of year they intend to build it.

“Bear in mind it is arable crops, you cannot just stick them in any time of the year.

“The access into the middle field is very restricted already, and any further restrictions will make combine harvester access impossible.”

“I get in there currently by climbing the hedge one side or straddling the ditch on the other.”

Somerset Cllr Frances Nicholson welcomed the new safe route to the two schools, but asked the committee to heed Mr Dibble’s warnings about the timing of the paths’ construction.

Cllr Nicholson said: “It would be a good thing if the connecting route through the Orchard Brooks estate could be adopted as a public right of way rather than a permissive path, because the latter can always be withdrawn.

“I am glad that the gateways to the farmland are going to be made available and possible to use.

“However, I wonder if there is room for a condition that considers the timing of the works.

“The temporary impact on farming of the two construction compounds could be greater or lesser depending to the time of year when work is done.”

Under the agreed planning conditions, the new paths must be constructed within five years of approval being granted or before 90 per cent of the Station Fields homes are completed and occupied, whichever date comes first.