A NEWLY-formed group of cyclists is calling for changes to Taunton roads to improve the lives of cyclists in the town.

The Taunton Area Cycling Campaign (TACC) is presenting its “15 hotspots” survey to Somerset County Council (SCC) and Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC).

Members of the group have been conducting research to find the best and worst cycling points in the town, and asking what can be done to improve safety and enthusiasm for current and new cyclists.

The group surveyed cyclists and asked them to highlight three “issues” with the town in regards to cycling, and have now grouped together the areas that got the most complaints into the 15 hotspots.

The group met in Taunton town centre to kick-start the campaign on Saturday, November 26.

Pip Sheard, of TACC, said: “We have had some really great feedback from our survey.

“Our aim is to make the town safer.

“Taunton could be a really good town for cyclists as it’s mostly flat land, and cycling could beat or avoid the traffic problems.

“We want to encourage people to start cycling, so we are using our survey as a starting point.”

The 15 spots include Station Road, East Reach and Tangier. More general complaints were due to things like poor maintenance of the cycle network, pot holes, and the behaviour of motorists.

Somerset County Gazette:

The map created by the Taunton Area Cycling Campaign identifying the worst spots in town.

Another issue the group has highlighted is the lack of safe route on the A38 Taunton to Wellington and the A358 Taunton to Bishops Lydeard.

Now, the group plans to present SCC and TDBC with the survey, to see what can be done to address the issues.

Mrs Sheard added: “A lot of people are really positive about what Taunton could be for cyclists.

“We are giving the survey to the councils to ask for a response to our discovered hotspots, to start the dialogue, and to look for comprehensive solutions.”

As well as wanting improvements to the roads, the group wants maps of the cycle routes around the town to be printed.

Cllr Roger Habgood, executive member for planning at transport at Taunton Deane Borough Council, said: “Cycling has so many benefits – it’s a lot healthier to get on your bike rather than sat in a car on a short journey.

“It’s also a lot cheaper than spending money on fuel – and cuts down on emissions, too. The majority of people working in Taunton actually live here so are not commuting long distances.

“There are some fantastic cycle routes locally – and pedestrian paths – for example the towpath along the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal.

“By working closely with our colleagues at Somerset County Council and, with Taunton Area Cycling Campaign, we should be able to make the cycle network even better, reduce the hotspots and to encourage more people to take to two wheels.”

A spokesman from Somerset County Council said: “We support their aspiration to have a high quality cycle network and are working to provide better facilities for cyclists within the resources that we have available.

“Every year we spend more than £20 million maintaining and improving the County’s roads through various schemes. We do already look for opportunities to improve cycling routes through these schemes but we will use this additional evidence from the cycling community to further inform the schemes that we, and developers, plan.

“The campaign group were helpful in discussions about the cycling facilities that are being developed as part of the improvements to M5 at Junction 25, and we are looking forward to further discussions about the 15 hotspot issues identified.”

For more information on the Taunton Area Cycling Campaign, visit: sites.google.com/site/tauntoncycling/