New public paths will soon be created to link major Bridgwater housing developments together.

The Stockmoor and Willstock housing developments have been constructed in recent years, providing hundreds of new homes at Bridgwater’s southern edge near Junction 24 of the M5.

As part of the developments, the Stockmoor and Willstock Country Park was created, providing a green lung for the local area and allowing unmotorised travel between the homes and nearby amenities.

Sedgemoor District Council has now announced it will deliver a further 225 metres of all-weather paths to complement the existing network.

The new paths – which are being funded through contributions from the existing developments – will provide connections across the park for three key sections:

  • Sorrel Drive to Nokoto Drive and Limousin Way
  • Sorrel Drive to Wills Road
  • Sorrel Drive and Nokoto Drive to Wilstock Way

Construction of the paths is likely to be completed before the end of the year.

These two major developments lie within close proximity to the Bridgwater Gateway site, which is expected to deliver 400 new homes and numerous commercial outlets under the council’s Local Plan, which runs until 2032.

The council voted in late March to approve the design principles for the new development, with the new homes being built to the north of the existing commercial buildings which been delivered.

Councillor Bill Revans – whose North Petherton ward includes the site – warned at the time that new pedestrian and cycling links to the Stockmoor and Willstock homes would be needed to prevent the Gateway site from becoming isolated from the rest of Bridgwater.

He said at the time: “This site needs to connect through to Willstock Village and through to Stockmoor much better than it does at the moment.

“I have a fear that it will be a ghetto at the end of a cul-de-sac, and I really think we’re missing an opportunity here.”