PLANS to extend a controversial cycleway along the A39 near Minehead appear to have been paused amid suggestions Somerset Council was spending the allocated money on other work.

The first section of A39 cycleway was completed from Dunster to Minehead last year and caused a huge public backlash as the work held up traffic sometimes for hours on end.

The council was forced eventually to replace its contractors with another company to complete the job with less disruption.

Since then, people have complained the £1 million spent on the cycling and walking path was wasted because it was used so little.

Then, last December the council announced it was going to use another £1.5million of Government grant to build a new stretch of cycleway in the opposite direction from Dunster to Carhampton.

However, local councillors were recently told the scheme seemed to have been paused and they speculated the money earmarked for the project ‘was being diverted elsewhere’.

They were told work was carried out between Dunster and Carhampton to ‘understand the state of the existing path’ and the council was now looking at what still needed doing to improve facilities in the area.

They were promised they would receive updates on any progress.

A Somerset Council spokesperson told the Free Press: “In addition to the works that have already been carried out we are still looking at the route to identify potential gaps which need addressing.

“We will update the local community when we have more to share.”