Cycling and walking routes could get funding boost

"Ambitious" and "transformational" plans have been backed to improve cycling and walking routes across Devon.

Councillors approved priorities for cycling and walking improvements over the next 10 to 20 years for areas including Tiverton, Cullompton and the Clyst Valley.

Devon County Council said its adoption of Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans meant it would be in the "strongest possible position" to bid for government funds, external grants and developers.

It said it had picked routes where it could make the greatest impact in increasing the number of people who walk or cycle.

The council looked at how the links helped travel for school, work and leisure, as well as assessing if there were existing routes.

They included the housing growth area of Cullompton and Tiverton where 8,000 homes were in the local plan to 2033.

The council wanted the routes to link the proposed Culm Garden Village to the rest of Cullompton.

Oher routes aimed to link areas in the Clyst Valley and Cranbrook area in east Devon where there were 10,000 homes in the local plan to 2031, said the authority.

The cabinet also approved a plan for 10 routes including the Otter Trail, the Tarka Trail and the Boniface Trail in mid Devon and Exeter.

Councillors supported adding a Totnes to Newton Abbot shared walking and cycling route via Littlehempston to a plan South Hams District Council was creating.

Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's cabinet member for highway management, said: "I'm delighted that the council has adopted these transformational and ambitious Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, which set out our priorities for investment."

He added that the active travel improvements were "well supported by local people".

Mr Hughes said the plans put the authority "in the strongest position to secure future funding and deliver new commuter, education and leisure routes in locations where there is the greatest potential to encourage walking, wheeling and cycling amongst people of all ages and abilities".

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