SOMERSET Council has called on the head of Forestry England to reverse the closure of a popular mountain biking facility near the county town.

Forestry England operates the Wych Lodge site on Staple Hill in Staple Fitzpaine, on the north-eastern edge of the Blackdown Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

The site includes Wych Lodge MTB Trails (formerly only as O. P. Trails), which allows people to hire mountain bikes free of charge to explore trails within the local woods.

Forestry England recently announced, with little notice, that the facility would be closed and scheduled for demolition.

Somerset Council has now called for this decision to be reversed, arguing it would have a negative impact on visitor numbers and locals’ health and well-being.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, expressed his concerns in a letter to Forestry England chief executive Mike Seddon, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Rigby – himself a keen cyclist – said: “I am extremely concerned that this group’s access to an essential active travel and health and well-being amenity is being curtailed.

“A year ago, the group associated with this facility was on track to become an official venue on the Forestry England trail centre network and were praised by yourselves for their trail design and construction – particularly for their consideration of local flora and fauna.

“They have achieved an excellent relationship with local horse riders, stables and with anglers using the same area. It seems strange that you have now chosen to cease their access.”

The site was used by more than a thousands cyclists on a regular basis, including mobility-impaired riders who use adaptive mountain bikes.

Mr Rigby said the mountain biking community was “an ideal role model” for those visiting the forest and said the facility was a key part of efforts to increase walking and cycling in and around Taunton.

He said: “Somerset Council is committed to increasing participation in active travel and using access to local countryside amenities to build a healthier population.

“Wych Lodge is ideal for Taunton residents as it is easily accessible via safe cycle routes from the town.

“It enables the residents, particularly those on low incomes and younger cyclists, to have access to sport and the positive benefits of being in nature.

“The positive well-being benefits participation in group activities such as these bring huge mental health benefits and encourages strong diverse communities.

“At a time where we are encouraging more people to be active and access nature and when both the Department for Transport and Defra are actively funding active travel and access to the countryside, it feels wrong to be reducing access to this forest.”

The council is seeking to make numerous improvements to walking and cycling routes in and around Taunton as part of the town’s local cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), which was published in February 2022.

Wych Lodge is connected to a number of existing footpaths and cycleways, with the prospect in the long term of better links being provided over the M5 to developments in the southern edge of Taunton.

Mr Rigby concluded: “The group is distraught and feel their previous efforts and relationship with Forestry England have been ignored.

“I believe the loss of this amenity will be devastating for this hard-working group and for the county as a whole.

“I urge you to reconsider your approach and to work with the group to facilitate a solution.”

An online petition to save the mountain bike facility, started by Andrew Hughes, has so far attracted more than 1,600 signatures.

Mr Hughes said: “This has been a popular, free to ride mountain bike facility for 20 years, and the only such facility within reasonable distance, on a safe cycle route to Taunton.

“Enjoyed by over a thousand riders from the local area, and attracting visitors from far and wide, we have built an incredible facility and community that is welcoming and supportive, who care as much about the forest and its other users, as they do about their sport.

“The loss of Wych Lodge MTB Trails will not only remove the only access to the sport many people have (especially the young and financially strained), it will destroy a very diverse community that spans generations, genders, abilities, beliefs, nationalities and languages; a network of support groups, learning opportunities and unlikely friendships.”

Forestry England was approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service but did not comment by the time of the requested deadline.

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org/p/save-wych-lodge-bike-park.