An open letter to Cheddar parish councillors calling for unified support for a proposed pump track in the village, has been signed by more than 1,100 people.

The Ride Mendips group in Cheddar believes that this will be a valuable addition to sporting facilities in the village, and a fantastic opportunity to promote well-being through healthy outdoor activity among local residents and the wider community.

A pump track is a circuit of banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders "pumping" - generating momentum by up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing.

The group has raised more than £100,000 to make the project happen, but is now concerned that delays caused by objections from some Cheddar parish councillors could put the pump track at risk.

Chairman Grant Garge said: "Cheddar skatepark is a popular place for young people and families to hang out and enjoy healthy outdoor exercise.

"Ride Mendips have obtained planning permission and secured more than £100,000 of funding. We were aiming to get the track built an opened by the summer of 2021.

"Unfortunately obstacles from Bristol Water and members of Cheddar Parish Council have delayed the project but we are still working to realise the track by late 2021 or early 2022."

At the time of writing (October 5) the open letter to the councillors on Change.org had been signed more than 1,100 times. It says:

"Dear Councillors,

The Cheddar Pump Track Project aims to bring a new sporting facility to the village for the benefit of local residents and especially for young people. We see this as an fantastic opportunity to provide a safe learning ground for young people to enjoy outdoor exercise and to develop their cycling skills. The project has considerable support from the local community and has been supported by the majority of Cheddar Parish Council throughout.

Ride Mendips have worked extremely hard to raise well over £100,000 towards the project and have never asked for any funding from Cheddar Parish Council. Ride Mendips have also worked extremely hard to overcome multiple obstacles to the project, raised by Bristol Water and members of Cheddar Parish Council, to arrive at a new location and design that addresses all substantive issues.

Despite support from the majority of parish councillors, we have faced consistent objections from a minority of councillors that we feel have actively sought to delay or stop the project. Most recently evidenced by the objection raised to the current planning application, to Sedgemoor District Council, even after it was supported by the majority of parish councillors. We do not believe that these councillors are now acting in the interest of the majority of local residents who we believe support the project.

With time running out on funding grant deadlines, we ask for your collective commitment and accountability to realise the Cheddar Pump Track project before funding deadlines expire."

Cheddar Parish Council has been approached for comment.

The planning application is set to be considered by Sedgemoor District Council planning committee on October 12.

You can view the open letter on Change.org here.