A BID has gone in to the Government for Levelling Up Fund cash for improvements in Cheddar.

Sedgemoor District Council has ambitious plans, including keeping the village and gorge well connected and welcoming for everyone who spends time in Cheddar and supporting businesses and creating more opportunities for people who live and work there.

The council has put together a survey, listing ideas that have already come forward, such as new transport hubs, attractive public spaces and ways to make it easier to visit and spend time in Cheddar.

The survey runs until next Wednesday (June 30) at Improve Cheddar Gorge (sedgemoor.gov.uk).

The initial ideas have been presented to the Cheddar Vision Group, a local stakeholder organisation that works to identify opportunities for investment to regenerate Cheddar's economy.

There will also be leaflet in and around Cheddar to explain the proposals aimed at:

  • creating an improved destination for visitors, with attractive public spaces;
  • enable alternatives to car use, including park and ride, cycling and walking routes;
  • improve pedestrian footways within Cheddar Gorge, slow traffic speeds and tackle anti-social behaviour.

Potential areas already identified for consideration include:

  • exploring the creation of a transport hub at Cliff Street/Tweentown car park, with better pedestrian links to the gorge, improved cycle parking, electric vehicle charging, improved bus stops, and visitor information;
  • examining opportunities for improved pedestrian routes, electric vehicle charging and cycle parking throughout the gorge, as well as improving interfaces with other pedestrian routes such as the Mendip Way;
  • introducing traffic calming measures to slow speeds and prioritise pedestrians and cyclists, as part of improvements to pavements in the gorge;
  • identifying opportunities to declutter streetscapes and provide consistent street furniture (benches, bins, signs, bollards) and produce a better link between Cheddar Gorge Car Park and other areas.

Sedgemoor District Council portfolio holder for inward investment and growth Cllr Gill Slocombe said: “Cheddar is a great place to live, work and visit, but we want it to be the very best that it can be.

"That is why we have been looking at how long- and short-term improvements like creating new transport hubs, enhancing public spaces could make visiting and spend time locally easier and more enjoyable.

"Making Cheddar more attractive and encouraging visitors would benefit the local economy and support businesses, creating more opportunities for people who live and work in the area.”