A DISUSED Somerset railway bridge that has become a notorious fly-tipping spot is set to get a new lease of life.

Cycling and walking charity Greenways and Cycleroutes Ltd have joined forces with National Highways in a bid to see the bridge, at Ridge Road in Shepton Mallet, used to support a new active travel route for cyclists, walkers and those in wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Stump Cross Bridge carries Ridge Road over the disused Cheddar Valley railway line, which was closed in 1963.

It had fallen into disrepair, with its three arches each partially filled by local landowners. The location had also become a hot spot for dumping rubbish.

Since taking over custodianship of the structure in 2013, National Highways has cleared up the site and undertaken works to the bridge to ensure safe load carrying, as well as installing a bat hotel beside one of the bridge’s spans.

Greenways and Cycleroutes has been working with the former Mendip Council, now Somerset Council, to construct a number of missing sections along the planned 32-mile greenway and active travel route, from Clevedon Pier to Shepton Mallet.

Priority is being given to completing the five-mile Wells and Shepton Mallet section, which will bypass heavily trafficked roads and hilly terrain.

Making a safe crossing of Ridge Road is central to realising this section.

Hélène Rossiter, head of the historical railways estate at National Highways, said: “We are really excited about Greenways and Cycleroutes aspirations for this site and are working closely with them to support their plans for another one of our structures to connect with the popular Strawberry Line.

“We look after more than 3,100 historical railway structures across the UK and this is a great opportunity to bring one of them back into use.

“We know there is strong community support for repurposing Stump Cross Bridge and we’ve taken this on board as part of our plans.

“As ever there are challenges to overcome but by working together we can maximise our chances of success.”

A spokesperson for Greenways and Cycleroutes said: “We are delighted to be working with National Highways to link the routes that we have negotiated either side of this busy road to create a memorable greenway and wheelchair friendly route.”

A spokesperson for the Strawberry Line Society added: “We are delighted by the National Highways Historic Railways Estate’s (HRE) constructive stance on repurposing the old bridge over the trackbed at Ridge Road for active travel.

“We are hopeful that a safe passage under this heavily trafficked road can be achieved.

“In recent years, Ridge Road has become a busy ‘bypass’ to Shepton Mallet, and therefore increasingly dangerous to cross. We look forward to working with HRE to provide the best possible route past Ridge Road for vulnerable path users.”

David Carter, service director, infrastructure and transport, at Somerset Council, said: “We are pleased to see the partnership working between National Highways and Greenways delivering this important piece of infrastructure to bring a historic structure back into public service.”

The intention is for the route to go through one of the bridge’s three spans.

National Highways will now work with relevant authorities to ensure the proposed repurposing of the site is done so with all necessary permissions, as well as working closely with Natural England and the local planning authority to ensure any future plans have no disruption to the environment and can be delivered safely and will not disturb the bats who have made the bridge hotel their home.