PLANS to extend a popular coastal path in Brean have been stopped in their tracks due to a land dispute.

In January, Greenways and Cycle Routes Limited submitted a planning application to extend Brean Down Way coastal path in a triangular circuit to serve Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brent Knoll.

The plans show, if built, the new path will go through Unity Farm, in Burnham-on-Sea, Burnham and Berrow Golf Club and Middle Street, in Brent Knoll.

And last week the project looked set to go ahead after planning officers at Sedgemoor District Council approved the proposal to build the £229,000 extension to the route.

But John Grimshaw, from Greenways and Cycle Routes, said the project may not go ahead after all as Burnham and Berrow Golf Club is not willing to give up land.

But a spokesman for the golf club says it has concerns over the project and it would need to redesign seven of the 18 holes on the championship course to accommodate it.

“Work hasn’t started yet. It can’t start as one of the interested parties is not willing to release their land to us,” Mr Grimshaw said. “I am gutted. We have been working on this plan for over a year and were shocked when they told us they didn’t want to do it.”

“We are just so gutted we will not be able to do it, it’s such a shame, it would have been a fantastic project.”

Councillor Phil Harvey, from Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said he is “very disappointed” the plans are not going ahead.

Cllr Harvey said: “At a time when we as a town council are working hard to improve the visitor-offer in Burnham, this is certainly a blow.

“The proposals offered the possibility of providing a safe pedestrian and cycle route from Berrow to Brean. The proposed route would benefit local residents who have, over many years, been campaigning for a footpath. It would also have benefited visitors by providing a safe route as part of the recent extension of the South West Coastal Path to Weston-super-Mare.”

“I can only hope that sufficient pressure can be brought to bear on the unwilling party, particularly from the residents of Berrow and Brean, to make them change their mind.”

A spokesman for Burnham and Berrow Golf Club said it supports the cycle route ‘in principle’ and said its merits have been discussed “at length” with Mr Grimshaw and councillors.

The spokesman added: “Regrettably, after a comprehensive study by professional consultants, the directors have been advised that the current proposal cannot be supported. The reasons relate to the safety of cyclists and others, serious liability issues raised by our insurers and the need to redesign no less than seven of 18 holes on the championship course.

“This includes protection measures for members of the public. These are disproportionate to the benefits of the proposal and would create long term disruption to the golf course which is ranked in the top echelons of golf courses in the UK and Ireland.

“The club remains open to exploring further opportunities in creating pedestrian links from Berrow to Burnham and will continue to work with councillors in this regard.”