The Parrett Trail runs for 50ish miles along the River Parrett. The Trail is a major tourist attraction in Somerset, and is even earmarked for refurbishment by SSDC and Visit Somerset in a new tourism drive. Work on the Trail was started in 1994, and was completed in 1998. It cost a total of £500,000, with half of that cost being covered by an EU grant

The Trail not only attracts tourists and long-distance walkers, it also provides opportunities for Somerset’s communities to engage with and explore their natural environment. During the coronavirus lockdowns, people have rediscovered and reconnected with their local walking trails and this has highlighted how important access to the countryside is for both our physical and mental well-being.  

As it winds its way north, the Parrett Trail meets the A30. At this point the public footpath crosses a dangerous section of A-road. In order that walkers could avoid making this perilous crossing over the main road, the District and County Councils looked for alternatives and settled on a solution: excavating and refurbishing an old, disused tunnel that conveniently sits right next to the Parrett Trail and goes under the A30.

This tunnel has some interesting history - it was built to accommodate a “leat”, which carried water from the River Parrett to the nearby mill (which is now a well-known pub called the Haselbury Mill). Over time, the leat tunnel fell into disuse and the southern access into the leat tunnel was lost. In a joint venture between the relevant landowners, Somerset County Council, and South Somerset District Council, the tunnel was excavated, repaired, and secured for public use by agreement of permissive access between the Council and the landowners. The tunnel was opened in 2000. 

Sadly, however, the adjacent landowner withdrew permissive access in 2006. When it became evident that people were still using the tunnel, they proceeded to block it with barbed wire, old concrete posts, and other detritus. This meant that users of the Parrett Trail had to revert back to the public right of way that crosses over the A30.

Despite numerous attempts to persuade the landowner to clear the tunnel access, it has remained blocked ever since. 

There is, hopefully, light at the end of the tunnel!

South Somerset District Council are now investigating ways to reopen this tunnel. However, it’s early days and the District Council has made no promises that it will be able to help - only that it will investigate options. At this stage, the Council is keen to hear from the wider community and users of the tunnel in order to gauge the level of community interest in this tunnel being accessible . 

Please sign our petition and, if you have time, tell us how you would personally benefit from this tunnel being reopened. The more evidence we present to the Council the harder our petition is to ignore!