19
Feb 2026
The Strawberry Line - a route that connects people, nature and community
Our friends at The Strawberry Line have produced a wonderful 15-minute film about the creation of this amazing walking, wheeling and cycling route in Somerset.
The film highlights the many benefits of greenways like this — from providing a safe, traffic-free route for children travelling to school, to supporting wildlife that has flourished along the path. It also celebrates the enthusiasm and dedication of the community of volunteers who work together to maintain the route.
You can watch the video on this page of their website. https://www.thestrawberryline.org.uk/heritage
11
JAN
2026
Meet Your Neighbours Rides Celebrate a Festive Finale and Look Ahead to 2026
Our final Meet Your Neighbours ride of 2025 was a festive celebration, with a seasonal soundtrack accompanying our cycle into town and a chance to enjoy the last Saturday market before Christmas.
This marked our ninth monthly ride and brought a wonderful year to a close. Since April, more than 50 people have joined us each month to cycle into Bridport. Riders of all ages have taken part, and it has been especially heart-warming to see experienced cyclists chatting with and supporting younger riders along the way.
We are grateful to Bridport Cycling Club for their continued support, helping to ensure our rides are safe and welcoming. We also loved being joined by Cycling Without Age, whose trishaw enabled those unable to cycle to take part. Bridport’s Town Crier, has been another memorable presence on many rides — a colourful addition in full regalia. Younger riders are always delighted when he rings his bell and announces our arrival as we approach the stop in Bradpole.
In October, we were saddened to hear that Cycling Without Age in Bridport was being placed on hold while a new coordinator is sought and permanent accommodation is found for the trishaw. We very much hope this wonderful scheme will resume in 2026.
We look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces in 2026. To make it easier for families to join us, rides will start slightly later at 10am.
Confirmed dates for 2026 are:
January 24
February 21
March 21
April 25
May 23
June 20
We hope you can join us for another year of friendly, inclusive cycling in our community.
4 NOV
2025
Building a Safer, More Inclusive Connection
This image is a powerful reminder of why we need a safe, direct, non-road alternative to the current steep, winding lane — a route where traffic speeds can reach up to 60 mph.
Our vision is to create an accessible, inclusive link between Loders and Bradpole that everyone can enjoy — whether walking, wheeling, or cycling. This non-road active travel route will provide a safer, more welcoming way for all members of the community to travel independently, confidently, and sustainably.
1 OCT
2025
Help shape the future of travel in Dorset but don't wait!
🗓️The consultation closes on Monday, 13 October!
🗣️ Every person counts — everyone in your household can complete their own survey response, including young people under 18. Please encourage and support them to take part.
Dorset Council is consulting on its new Local Transport Plan — a strategy that will guide how we travel across Dorset for the next 15 years.
Support Loders Transport Group’s vision for a safe, non-road route between Loders and Bradpole — connecting our communities and making walking, wheeling 👩🏽🦽 & cycling safer for everyone. 🚶♀️👩🏽🦽🚴♂️
🗳️ Have your say before Monday, 13 October!
👉 Complete the Dorset Local Transport Plan Survey
1️⃣ Complete the survey — it takes about 10 minutes, and encourage your family and neighbours.
2️⃣ Ask Dorset Council to include a non-road route between Loders and Bradpole in the Local Transport Plan.
3️⃣ Tell them why you support a non-road route between Loders and Bradpole. Our reasons are listed below 👇
💬 Why This Matters
We urge Dorset Council to include a Loders to Bradpole Non-Road Route in their Local Transport Plan Implementation Programme and deliver this high-impact, low-cost project before Dorset Council’s first 5-year review.
Section 6 of Dorset Council’s survey gives you the opportunity to share your opinion and additional comments, where you can demonstrate that the route aligns with their objectives ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ & ‘D’ listed below.
🌱 Direct Benefits
- Climate & Environment – reduces car dependence by providing a safe, zero-emission alternative for short journeys.
- Health & Well-being – encourages active lifestyles, supporting both physical and mental health.
- Accessibility & Prosperity – connects rural Loders with Bridport’s jobs, shops, schools, cultural, and social opportunities, as well as other services.
- Safety – avoids the steep, narrow, blind-bend road with a 60 mph limit currently used between Loders and Bradpole.
💚 Community Backing
Residents, school leaders, and parents strongly support a Non-Road Route, highlighting improved safety, reduced car reliance, and the desire for independent active travel for children.
📍 Current Context
The draft Local Transport Implementation Plan (2026–2031) identifies a trailway east of Loders towards Maiden Newton, but does not include a westward connection from Loders to Bradpole.
Westward destinations are within ideal active-travel distances from Loders:
• Secondary school & supermarket – 1.8 miles
• Bridport town centre – 2.5 miles
• West Bay – 4 miles
Dorset Council already acknowledges that the existing road is dangerous by providing free school transport to Loders pupils, despite the secondary school being within walking distance.
🎯 Alignment with Local Transport Plan Objectives
A. Safeguard the Climate and Environment
• Enables zero-emission everyday journeys.
• Reduces car use and carbon emissions.
B. Improve Health and Well-being
• Provides a safe, inclusive route for all: walkers, wheelchair users, pushchairs, mobility scooters, and cyclists.
• Increases physical activity and supports mental health.
• Reduces long-term healthcare pressures.
C. Create Accessible and Prosperous Places
• Connects rural Loders to Bridport’s jobs, shops, and cultural spaces.
• Supports local businesses — including hospitality venues in Loders.
D. Enable a Safer Transport System
• Offers a safe alternative to an unsuitable road.
• Encourages independent, active travel to school.
• LTG’s 2025 survey with Loders Primary School revealed widespread concern with the current road route:
- “No pavements.”
- “Too fast, too many cars.”
- “I’d like my child to be able to cycle to school safely.”
🌿 Our Vision
To create a safe, inclusive, and accessible non-road route between Loders and Bradpole, supporting active mobility for all, enhancing well-being, and contributing to a connected parish.
🤝 Our Mission
To work collaboratively with key landowners, council leaders, and community stakeholders, to enable a defined, low-impact route for walking, wheeling, cycling, and other forms of active travel — ensuring daily journeys can be made safely, sustainably, and with dignity.
31
JULY
2025
Disabled Adventurer
This week I discovered Nick Wilson, The Disabled Adventurer. He wrote on Facebook about his experience being able to explore Norfolk thanks to accessible trails, he writes:
"What a week! Imagine no barriers and spending the week visiting beautiful sites, and accessible trails taking you to places you've only seen in pictures. That's what I've just experienced.
From boardwalks that carried me through wild dunes, to forest trails where the only thing I had to focus on was the rustling of leaves and the sound of birdsong.
From smiling alongside friends without worrying about terrain, to the mind-blowing moment of actually rolling onto the beach — on my own four wheels — for the very first time.
This wasn’t a dream. This was real. And it was possible because there are people who care and are passionate about prioritising accessibility, not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental part of design.
Let that sink in.
For disabled people, the outdoors is too often a closed door. Even the simplest woodland path or seafront view can be shut off by one step, one style, one patch of sand. It’s exhausting, demoralising, and frankly, it’s a disgrace in 2025.
But in Norfolk, I saw what's possible.
And it lit a fire in me.
Now it wasn't perfect, it won't be suitable for everyone and some will have a very different experience than myself. But. This shows what's possible and the impact is being measured, so there'll be data to prove the value of investing in accessibility.
At the very least, it's the standard we should be holding every park, trail, and outdoor space to, not just because it’s “nice” to include us, but because it’s right. Access to nature is a human right and everyone deserves the peace, joy, and healing that comes from being outdoors, and it’s about equality and inclusion!
When you make the outdoors accessible, you don’t just change one person’s day. You transform lives.
You build confidence. You reconnect people with the world. You replace isolation with inspiration. You create community, adventure, and wellbeing, for everyone.
So here’s my challenge to councils, landowners, designers, and decision-makers:
Stop asking if access is possible.
Start asking why it isn't already.
Stop doing the bare legal minimum
Start leading the way with innovation and universal design.
Accessibility isn't solely about wheelchairs or even people with disabilities. An accessible world helps; parents with buggies, young kids on wheeled toys, people with temporary injuries and the elderly to name a few.
We’re not asking for the world. We’re just asking to be in it."
There's a documentary coming out about him climbing a mountain in an all terrain mobility chair, details about the public screening are here.
9
JULY
2025
Meet Your Neighbours Bike Ride
Our monthly ‘Meet your neighbours bike ride into Bridport’ is proving to be increasingly popular. We aim to encourage cyclists who would normally lack the confidence to cycle on our narrow lanes. Families with young children are always welcome. It provides the opportunity for children to learn how to be safe on the roads and discover how gears can help us get up those tricky hills. Our last ride included a 4 year old who was delighted with herself for having completed the ride there and back!
We also encourage adults to dust off those bikes languishing in the back of garages and sheds and find the confidence to start pedalling again, supported by the group.
June’s ride was great fun and certainly turned a few heads as we rode into Bridport. We were led by a couple in a trishaw and the town crier joined us on his bike in full regalia!
Our next ride is on 26 July. Join us if you can!
