Rail passengers alighting at Yeovil could soon have a smoother journey to exploring the town’s prized green spaces under council plans. Yeovil Pen Mill railway station, which lies off the A30 Sherborne Road east of the town centre, benefits from a direct pedestrian and cycling link to Yeovil Country Park, skirting around the town’s golf club and numerous commercial developments at the town’s southern edge.
Somerset Council is currently delivering several ‘missing links’ within the town’s walking and cycling network as part of the ongoing Yeovil Refresh regeneration programme, making it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle into the town centre from nearby homes and other amenities. As part of these improvements, the council has pledged to carry out improvements to the route into the award-winning country park, protecting it from flooding and making it more attractive to visitors.
Yeovil Pen Mill railway station lies on the Bristol to Weymouth line and is predominantly served by Great Western Railway (GWR) services, handling more than 166,000 passengers a year according to the Office of Rail and Road. Those alighting at the station wishing to access the country park use a signalised crossing over the A30, having the option to either scale Wyndham Hill or follow a flatter route to the south.
Those opting for the gentler route follow the trackbed of the line which served Yeovil Town railway station between 1861 and the Beeching cuts of the late-1960s. The route runs along the River Yeo to the Yeo Leisure Park (home to the town’s Cineworld and Hollywood Bowl), linking up with footpaths leading south towards Newton Road and Yeovil Junction railway station (which lies on the London Waterloo to Exeter mainline).
At this point the path heads south-west, crossing over Addlewell Lane near Yeovil Community Church and passing the Ninesprings play area as it enters the main, most popular section of the country park. From here, visitors and locals can explore the wide range of routes around the country park, as well as enjoying a drink at the Ninesprings café or heading to Goldenstones Leisure Centre for a swim.
While the majority of this route is hard-standing and in decent condition, there are several areas in need of improvement – with tree roots threatening to burst through the concrete path, the sections nearest the river and golf club being vulnerable to flooding, and the markings of the cycle lanes nearest the station having faded with time. Somerset Council announced in July 2024 that it would be using £1.2M of central government grants to deliver ‘missing links’ to Yeovil’s cycle network, in line with the Yeovil local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP).
As part of these improvements (and others being carried out to the town’s traffic signals), the council has committed to improving the routes into the country park as needed – though the timing of any schemes has not been confirmed.
(Image: Daniel Mumby)
A spokesman said: “As part of the Somerset traffic signal refurbishment programme, work has already been done to improve the network in Old Station Road and Stars Lane to support access into the country park walking and cycling route.
“The work on South Western Terrace and associated crossings also updates the access point into the shared path that travels through Yeovil Country Park through the car park of the Yeo Leisure Park. To support the use of this route, we will be carrying out some drainage work in the country park, combined with minor upgrades to the path as it leaves and enters the park.”
Work on the ‘missing links’ will focus at the town’s ‘eastern corridor’ – with one section along Hendford, another on South Street, and a further one near Central Road and Middle Street.
Work was originally expected to be completed before Christmas, but is now anticipated to be finished by the end of February, according to the council’s official roadworks portal.
View of Wyndham Hill near the crossing with the A30 Sherborne Road in Yeovil
(Image: Daniel Mumby)
In the coming months, the council will oversee the delivery of improved walking and cycling links along Lyde Road, providing a better connection to the town centre and country park from the Wyndham Park estate – with further links being provided in the longer term as the Up Mudford urban extension begins to be delivered.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and digital, stated in July 2024: “By improving the road network, extending cycle and walkways and introducing new way-finding systems, our aim is to open up access to green spaces – ultimately creating a sustainable and fit for purpose, 21st-century town.”
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