Wheels in Motion for Waterlinks Project

WHEELS IN MOTION FOR WATERLINKS

Mendip residents will be asked their thoughts on how the district can play its part in the Somerset-wide Waterlinks project.

Mendip District Council has appointed consultants to work with the community to discuss projects that the district could submit in the hope of winning lottery funding.

Waterlinks is based around connecting people to the rivers and canals that form the green corridors running through the county and is made up of a collection of schemes across Somerset. They are one of six community projects across the UK shortlisted for the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

The projects, which aim to transform, revitalise and regenerate their communities, will compete for a grant of between £ 25million and £ 50million. The winning idea will be decided by a public vote on a national television programme.

As a shortlisted project, Waterlinks receives funding of up to £ 500,000 to further progress and develop the application.

Part of this funding is being used by Mendip District Council to pay for consultants to explore the best ideas to submit to the Big Lottery Fund from the Mendip area. Other district councils across Somerset are also working on their projects.

Planning and development consultants Roger Tym and Partners, in conjunction with Land Use Consultants, will now begin the process of contacting landowners and key organisations to gather ideas, before presenting their findings to the district council.

It is hoped that by the end of February, some key ideas will have been collated before the public is asked its thoughts. A submission is expected to be made to the Big Lottery Fund in late spring.

Some of the ideas under discussion include improvements to cycleways on the Somerset levels and the promotion of Mendip’s wetland areas.

Mendip District Council’s portfolio holder for community and regeneration, Cllr Harvey Siggs, said: “Waterlinks is an ambitious project, but one which we hope will bring huge benefits to Mendip if it is successful. Over the next few weeks Mendip District Council and its partners will be working hard to collate ideas which we hope will inspire the public.

“We are continually working to enhance Mendip as a place to live, work and visit, and by listening to the needs of our residents, we want Waterlinks to be a community supported project.”