A quiet residential road near Chard Reservoir could be turned into 'green lane' in a bid to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Touches Lane is one of five such roads across Somerset which are the subject of a consultation by Somerset Council, with a view to introducing trial measures in place to remove motor vehicles from a given section.
Chard residents have until February 24 to give their views on the two options for Touches Lane, with any trial proposals expected to be implemented later in the year.
If the scheme proves workable and popular, the change could be made permanent at a later date.
Touches Lane links Chaffcombe Road to Avishayes Road, running south of the reservoir and east of the town's enterprise centre and household waste recycling centre.
The narrow lane boasts a small number of residential properties and serves as a natural boundary between the town's eastern edge and the neighbouring countryside.
The lane is also crossed by National Cycle Network route 33 (known as the Stop Line Way), which follows the former railway line south towards Stringfellow Park and the town's Tesco store and north towards the reservoir, Donyatt and Ilminster.
Two options have been put forward by the council in a letter to local residents for how motor vehicles could be restricted, making Touches Lane more friendly for people walking, cycling and riding horses.
Option A will see barriers put in place near the current entrance to the Stop Line Way, east of Littlecombe Garage.
While motorists will therefore still be able to access the garage and associated motorhome business, residents living further along Touches Lane or on Heron Close will have to use Avishayes Road or the free reservoir car park on Oaklands Avenue.
Option B would see barriers instead installed to the east of Heron Close, with motorists using Chaffcombe Road to access properties on Touches Lane or on Heron Close.
Alan Muir, the council's principal transport planner for active travel, said: "If progressed, any changes would be put in as a trial under an experimental traffic order that can last up to 18 months.
"This would enable residents to try it out, with further consultation to inform any decision on whether the scheme should be made permanent.
"People on foot, wheeling or cycling would still be able to travel through the motor vehicle restriction, also known as a modal filter.
"This could be achieved using bollards, planters or concrete blocks, with additional signage to make road users aware of the restriction ahead."
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The delivery of the 'green lane' could have long-term implications for Chard's long-awaited eastern relief road (ERR), originally intended to run from the A358 Tatworth Road to the A358 Furnham Road, crossing over the B3162 Forton Road and the A30 Crewkerne Road.
A report on the preferred route was commissioned by South Somerset District Council before its abolition in April 2023 and produced by consultancy firm Three Dragons - but to date this report has not been published or come before any committee for discussion.
To take part in the consultation, visit www.somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/highways/greenlanes by February 24.
Four other locations are being considered for 'green lanes' under the same consultation:
- Highcroft Lane in Gurney Slade (a.k.a. Neville's Batch)
- Downend Road in Puriton (north of the A39 near the Dunball roundabout)
- Comeytrowe Road in Taunton (near the junction with Lloyd Close)
- Burcott Lane in Wells (south of a planned development of 47 homes)
Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, said: "I would urge people to get involved in the consultation.
"These locations provide a starting point for us to explore simple interventions to try and make routes more attractive for local residents and people walking, cycling or horse riding.
"We want to hear people’s views so we can be as well-informed as possible when it comes to taking the next steps."
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