Glastonbury Town Council has given its backing to a proposal for a dedicated pedestrian path alongside the A39, to provide safer travel options for residents walking and cycling between Glastonbury and Street. The plan, presented at the council's October meeting, calls for constructing a new footpath alongside the existing multi-use path on the south side of the road.

The local resident Susannah Clemence, who brought the proposal to the council, highlighted the safety issues with the current path. "It's way too narrow for what's needed," she said, explaining that the path was initially designed for both cyclists and pedestrians. However, she noted that the current width does not allow for cyclists and pedestrians to pass each other comfortably. "It's not wide enough for two cycles to pass each other," she added, "or for a cycle and pedestrian to pass each other safely."

She suggested that adding a pedestrian-only path, potentially running along the nearby row of oak trees where the land is slightly raised, could alleviate congestion and improve safety. "The land along there is slightly raised, so it doesn't flood, and that would be quite a good place to have a pedestrian path," she explained. The plan would also require the construction of a bridge across the South Drain, but Clemens noted that the area was suitable and would serve as a natural extension of the existing path.

Councillors were receptive to Clemens' proposal and acknowledged the longstanding issues with the path. Mayor Lokabee Lokabandhu welcomed the idea, calling it "a very positive step towards improving local infrastructure," and suggested further collaboration with Street Parish Council, who have also shown interest in the project.

"There have been safety concerns along that stretch of road for some time," he noted, "and this would be a valuable improvement for both Glastonbury and Street."

Clemens said that she had already contacted Street Parish Council and said they had shown enthusiasm for the idea, though funding and permissions would need to be secured.

"They sounded really interested in the idea," Clemens said, adding that local conservation societies might also be able to assist with funding for the pedestrian bridge.

The council expressed support for the proposal and agreed to explore funding options through Somerset County Council and local conservation groups.