In May 2020 an emergency active travel group was established bringing together organisations across Somerset with an aim to improve active travel options in response to the travel restrictions caused by Covid-19. The Government provided emergency funding (known as Tranche 1 funding) to support social distancing measures in key towns and to improve active travel.
We were awarded £120,000 funding and in Summer 2020 delivered temporary social distance measures in the following places:
Taunton - pedestrianisation of East Street;
Minehead - removal of some parking bays on The Avenue and The Parade;
Bridgwater - One-way system through Eastover/East Quay and the Parade; Pedestrianisation of Cornhill to High Street;
Burnham on Sea- Pedestrianisation of High Street;
Yeovil - Pedestrianisation of High Street and Middle Street;
Chard - Pedestrianisation of Holyrood Street;
Frome - Closure of Market Place;
Street - Pedestrianisation of High Street to Farm Road;
Wells - Pedestrianisation of Sadler Street, Market Place and High Street;
Glastonbury - Pedestrianisation of High Street;
Shepton Mallet - Pedestrianisation of High Street; and
Wells to Glastonbury Lane - road closure except for access and cyclist.
We used Commonplace's interactive heatmap to obtain feedback on the interventions and the schemes were adjusted in response.