travel information
Guide
Bishops Green, Wells
This site provides information on how to get around using public transport and other environmentally friendly methods to commute to work and school or explore the area.
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Bishops Green is situated on the north-western side of Wells, within walking distance of local schools, shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. Wells city centre is within easy reach, which provides a huge range of facilities, historic buildings and transport links to the rest of the country.
The Travel Information Pack is one of many measures included in the Travel Plan produced for the Bishops Green development and agreed with Somerset County Council.
The Travel Plan is a document which contains a package of measures to encourage you to try more sustainable alternatives to single-occupancy car use.
The Travel Plan can offer real benefits not only to you, but also to the community that surrounds you. It can help to relieve local parking and congestion problems and improve public transport connections across the area.
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To assist you with travel choices, as well as to implement and manage the Travel Plan, Bishops Green has a Travel Plan Coordinator. The Travel Plan Coordinator will be in place for a total of six years, across the duration of the Travel Plan. If you have any queries, questions or would like advice, please contact the Travel Plan Coordinator using the form at the end of the website.
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WALKING
Walking is one of the cheapest and easiest modes of transport, something which is boosted by the wider Wells area benefiting from good walking facilities.
It also offers the greatest potential to replace short car and public transport trips, particularly those under a two kilometre distance. It provides a healthy alternative to the private car and can form a component of many journeys made by public transport and car.
Throughout Bishops Green, direct and attractive footways are provided connecting to local facilities. The footways within the development and those along Wookey Hole Road also benefit from being well-maintained and street-lit.
You can walk to the majority of Wells City within a 25 minute period. To help out, we have summarised the distance and walk times further below.
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Local bus stops are located within a 2 minute walk of Bishops Green, on Wookey Hole Road. These stops provide links to the centre of Wells.
Your Green Travel Voucher (included within your Welcome Pack) includes a number of items which may assist you with walking more as part of your day to day life. This includes raincoats, walking shoes and rucksacks.
For more information on walking in Somerset, there is a wealth of information on promoted routes, health and fitness benefits and safety tips at the Somerset County Council website, visit:
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Benefits of walking:
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Walking is a great form of exercise and can reduce the risk of heart disease;
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Walking is an important form of sustainable transport which costs nothing and offers a wide range of benefits to you and the community; and,
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Walking is a completely environmentally friendly activity.
Local amenities
Bishops Green is sustainably located within comfortable walking and cycling distances to local schools, shops, key local facilities and bus stops. A number of these are illustrated on the map.
Schools
The Blue School
800m / 10 min Walk / 3 min Cycle
Noah’s Ark Pre-School
1.3km / 15 min Walk / 5 min Cycle
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St Joseph & St Teresa Primary School
1.3km / 15 min Walk / 5 min Cycle
St Cuthberts C of E Junior / Primary School
1.7km / 20 min Walk / 7 min Cycle
Wells Cathedral School
1.9km / 23 min Walk / 8 min Cycle
Stoberry Park School
2.0km / 24 min Walk / 8 min Cycle
Explorers Day Nursery
2.9km / 12 min Cycle
Local Amenities
Wookey Hole Road Bus Stops
170 m / 2 min Walk / 1 min Cycle
Wells Sport & Fitness
700 m / 8 min Walk / 3 min Cycle
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Wells Rugby Football Club
700 m / 8 min Walk / 3 min Cycle
Wells Blue Sports Centre
800m / 10 min Walk / 3 min Cycle
Mid Somerset Hockey Club
800m / 10 min Walk / 3 min Cycle
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Waitrose
1.2km / 14 min Walk / 5 min Cycle
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Halfords
1.5km / 15 min Walk / 5 min Cycle
Little Theatre
1.4km / 17 min Walk / 6 min Cycle
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Wells Bus Station
1.4km / 17 min Walk / 6 min Cycle
Bike City
1.5km / 18 min Walk / 6 min Cycle
Tesco Superstore
1.5km / 18 min Walk / 6 min Cycle
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Wells Post Office
1.5km / 18 min Walk / 6 min Cycle
Wells City Centre
1.7km / 20 min Walk / 7 min Cycle
Wells Cathedral
1.8km / 21 min Walk / 7 min Cycle
Morrisons
2km / 24 min Walk / 8 min Cycle
Cycling
Wells and its surrounding area is a beautiful place to ride your bicycle with a wide variety of scenery, designated traffic-free routes and historic buildings.
You can cycle to all the facilities in the Wells City centre within a 10 minute cycle, and access National Cycle Route 3, which runs along Wookey Hole Road adjacent to Bishops Green.
National Cycle Route 3 is a long distance route from Bristol to Land’s End via Taunton, Wells, Wookey Hole, Barnstaple, Bude and St. Austell. Similarly, National Cycle Route 33 links to Route 3, providing further connections to Bristol and Seaton, via Clevedon, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater and Chard.
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Explore your local community by bike!
We’re encouraging families to get more out of life – by getting on your bike and exploring the local community – either for an outing at the weekend, or a trip to the local shops, part of the school run, or daily commute. Don’t forget that your Green Travel Voucher is valid for a range of cycle equipment.
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For more information on cycling in Somerset, there is a wealth of detail on promoted routes, health benefits and safety tips at the Travel Somerset website, visit:
Benefits of Cycling:
Cycling is sociable – it provides a fantastic way to share some time with friends and family.
Cycling improves health and fitness - regular cycling also halves the risk of heart attacks and helps reduce risk factors like high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Cycling is ‘green’ – you can feel good about doing your bit for the environment.
Cycling is quick – for short journeys under 5 miles cycling is usually the fastest way to get around – and you won’t get stuck in traffic.
Cycling is cheap – no bus, train or season tickets required.
Cycling is convenient – it gets you ‘door-to-door’, with a guaranteed arrival time.
Cycling during rush hour is about twice as fast as a car!
Did you know that...
People who cycle regularly enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person 10 years younger - so you’ll look and feel even better!
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Your local bicycle shops are:
Bike City - 8 Queen Street, Wells, BA5 2DP
Open: 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday.
Tel: 01749 670002
Halfords - Westfield Road, Wells, BA5 2HS
Open: 8am–8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm on Saturdays and 10am-5pm on Sundays
Tel: 01749 685170
Website: halfords.com
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Why Public Transport?
Public transport can be quicker, cheaper and more convenient than using your car and provides a significant environmental benefit. Using public transport can remove the stress of finding a parking space, sitting in traffic and the costs of owning a car. Furthermore, you can travel while you relax with a newspaper or catch-up on social media.
To encourage residents of Bishops Green to use public transport, your Green Travel Voucher is valid for bus and rail season tickets. All you need to do is fill in the claim form and return it to your Travel Plan Coordinator. For terms and conditions, please see the claim form.
Where are my nearest bus stops?
The nearest stops to Bishops Green are located on Wookey Hole Road, located approximately 170 metres (2-minute walk) from the centre of the site, and serve the Number 67 service.
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Additional bus stops are located approximately 750m (9-minute walk) to the south of Bishops Green, on Wookey Hole Road, and serve the Number 67 and 126 services.
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The Number 67 service provides direct access to Wells City Centre and Wells Bus Station. A further 7 bus services route via Wells Bus Station, providing connections to destinations such as Weston-Super-Mare, Bath, Bristol, Frome, Shepton Mallet and Yeovil.
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To check real time journey information, visit:
www.traveline.info
www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/bus-it-you-know-it-makes-sense/
www.firstbus.co.uk/somerset
journeyplanner.travelwest.info/rti
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Rail
The closest railway station from Bishops Green is located approximately15km south-east, at Castle Cary.
Castle Cary Railway Station is accessible via the Number 174 bus service from Wells Bus Station to Shepton Mallet, followed by a change of service to the Number 1, which routes south from Shepton Mallet, directly to Castle Cary Train Station.
The station benefits from services every two hours to London Paddington and Exeter, and one service per hour to Yeovil and Weymouth. A reduced frequency of services to Gloucester are also available.
Castle Cary Railway Station provides cycle parking for 8 bicycles, and also offers car parking for 178 vehicles.
The station offers a ticket office and ticket machines, as well as step free access coverage.
67​
The Number 67 provides a service approximately every 90 minutes between Wookey Hole and Wedmore via Wells, Monday to Saturday.
126​
The 126 provides seven services from Axbridge and Wells via Cheddar, Monday to Friday.
To check real time rail journey information from Castle Cary, visit:
www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/castle-cary/
www.nationalrail.co.uk/live-trains/departures/castle-cary/
For rail enquiries visit:
www.thetrainline.com
Electric Vehicles
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more popular. Unlike conventional vehicles which burn fuel, EVs are battery powered just like your phone.
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The main advantage of EVs is that they produce zero-emissions when you are using them. This means that they provide local environmental benefits including cleaner air and reduced noise in urban areas.
Today’s EVs have the latest cutting-edge technology and can drive over 200 miles on a single charge, with some able to cover over 400 miles on a single charge - that’s the equivalent of Bishops Green to Glasgow!
Why go electric?
Cheaper to run
Compared to petrol or diesel, electricity is cheap. Per mile an EV could cost less than a third of what a traditional car costs.
Cheaper to maintain
Compared to a traditional car, EVs have a lot fewer moving parts, with just three main components - the on-board charger, inverter and motor. This means there are fewer things requiring maintenance and servicing is simpler, all of which saves you money. You’ll never need to change the oil again!
Did you know?
Every 3 minutes a new EV is registered on UK roads
Did you know?
Every 2 minutes a new EV is registered on UK roads
Better for the environment
EVs have no tailpipe emissions, and don’t even have an exhaust. Even when accounting for generating the electricity they use, EVs produce significantly fewer emissions than traditional cars.
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Easy home charging
With an EV you will never need to go to a petrol station again. Simply plug your car in when you get home to charge overnight and it’s ready for you in the morning.
Quiet and quick
EVs offer a smooth and quiet ride.
For more information on electric vehicles, visit:
edfenergy.com/electric-cars/benefits
To find your nearest EV charging point, visit:
zap-map.com/live
HOME WORKING
Reducing the need to travel to work or during working hours can save time and money whilst benefiting the environment.
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If you work from home just once a fortnight you are reducing your commute by 10%, which saves you both time and money.
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Studies have shown that people who work from home generate lower carbon emissions, reduce air pollution, use less petrol / diesel, use less paper, use less plastic and have a better work life balance, so why not give it a go? You may even find you are more productive as you’re not being interrupted.
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Remote and flexible working allows you to balance your work and home life commitments and leave you feeling great!
The Flexible Working Regulations 2014 give any employee with at least 26 weeks’ service the right to request flexible working arrangements from their employer. This may include reducing your hours to work part-time, changing your start and finish time, having flexibility with your start and finish time (sometimes known as ‘flexitime’), doing your hours over fewer days (‘compressed hours’), working from home or elsewhere (‘remote working’) or sharing your job with someone else.
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For more information on requesting flexible working, visit:
HOME DELIVERIES
A wide range of major supermarkets offer home delivery services to Bishops Green, so why not save time, money and petrol and have your groceries delivered?
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Morrisons
The nearest store is in Wells and is open 7am-10pm, Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm on Sundays. A home delivery service is available.
Parkwood Estate, Wells, BA5 1SQ
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Ocado
An online only supermarket offfering a wide range of fresh groceries, essentials, toys and more delivered to your door.
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Sainsbury's
The nearest Sainsbury’s store is in Cheddar and is open 8am-8pm, Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, 8am-9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 10am-4pm on Sundays. A home delivery service is available.
Roynon Way, Cheddar, BS27 3NZ
sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries
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Tesco
A Tesco Superstore is available in Wells, open 6am-11pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays. A home delivery service is available.
Tucker Street, Wells, BA5 2DZ
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Waitrose
The closest store is in Wellington and is open 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays. A home delivery service is available.
Whiting Way, Wells, BA5 2PJ
Sustainable Travel Events
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel
March, annually
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Walk to School Week
May, annually
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National Walking Month
May, annually
www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/national-walking-month
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National Clean Air Day
June, annually
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Bike Week
June, annually
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National Cycle to Work Day
August, annually
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World Car Free Day
September, annually
www.cyclinguk.org/article/world-car-free-day
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Road Safety Week
November, annually
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You can get involved with sustainable travel events, which promote the opportunity to try out alternative and more sustainable modes of travel to your workplace or education centre.
For more information and how to stay up to date and sign up to events, please visit the websites below.
CAR SHARING
Travelling with other people by car is an easy way to cut your CO2 emissions and save money. By splitting costs with your fellow passengers you will save on fuel and parking fees.
Use your time as a passenger to read or catch up on work, and of course you won’t have to find a parking space.
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Benefits of car sharing:
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Reduces travel costs
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Reduces wear and tear on your own vehicle
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Helps reduce congestion
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Expands social networks
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Reduces stress levels related to driving
Some Safety Tips if Meeting a New Car Share Buddy
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Avoid exchanging your full name or address before you’ve met someone.
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You’re never under obligation to take a lift. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t go through with the lift – even if it’s been agreed.
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As with any activity that involves meeting new people, it’s advisable to meet in a public place the first time. It’s always a good idea to let friends and family know your plans, too.