CHEDDAR Parish Council has branded the proposed extension of the Strawberry Line as unsafe and ugly. The eight-mile extension for cyclists and walkers has been drawn up by Somerset County Council to provide a continuous path between Yatton and Wells. The

CHEDDAR Parish Council has branded the proposed extension of the Strawberry Line as unsafe and ugly.The eight-mile extension for cyclists and walkers has been drawn up by Somerset County Council to provide a continuous path between Yatton and Wells.The new route will use the disused railway track running through Rodney Stoke and Draycott to Wells.But Cheddar Parish Council has objected to the new plans saying the path on agricultural land past Draycott Park Estate would be unsafe for children.Councillors think the route would be unsafe for Kings of Wessex Community School pupils because of farm machinery being used in the fields.Fears were also raised about the number of trees that would have to be cut down to lay the five metre wide track.The council also thinks the wooden fence that would border parts of the fence would be visually damaging to the landscape.Parish councillor Gillian Davies said: "Tractors and other engines are used in the fields and that could be quite dangerous if children are using it as a route to school."The fence isn't needed and would look totally out of place on the path, so we've objected about that too."This is a case of engineers making a decision and probably never coming down to look at the site."Planning officers hope the connection between the Strawberry Line and schools will cut down on the amount of traffic on the busy A371.Trunk routes running into the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels are also planned to extend areas already popular with walkers and riders.Sedgemoor District Council's planning committee will make a decision on the extension next month.