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Dawlish Railway Station (licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons by Geof Sheppard)£1.3m Defra funding for cycle link from Dawlish to Exe Estuary Trail
The Exe Estuary Trail, officially opened last November, is to be extended into the centre of the coastal town of Dawlish thanks to £1.3 million from the Coastal Community Fund operated by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
The route, which took a decade to develop, currently covers 16 miles from Exmouth to Dawlish Warren and was officially opened last November. The new extension, which will be completed in phases between autumn 2015 and late 2016, will link it to Dawlish railway station.
Environment minister Dan Rogerson visited the Devon town today to see first-hand works carried out since it hit the national headlines when it was buffeted by storms early last year.
He said: “Dawlish already has so much to offer and this new path for walkers and cyclists can only build on this – linking the town to the Exe Estuary trail and helping to make the town a year round destination.
“We want to see our seaside towns flourish and this money will enable Dawlish to develop its tourism, create jobs for residents and so build a stronger local economy.”
The funding was secured by Devon County Council, which had the support of Teignbridge District Council, Dawlish Town Council and Sustrans, with the project first proposed by the Transition Dawlish group, which campaigned for the route to be brought into the town centre.
As part of the scheme, which it is hoped will encourage more visitors, cycle hire facilities will be set up at Dawlish Warren, and there will be new cycle parking facilities at Dawlish railway station and elsewhere in the town.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member with responsibility for cycling said: “This funding is vitally important for the benefits it will deliver to local businesses in Dawlish, and along the entire length of the Exe Estuary Trail, by encouraging visitors into the town centre and at Dawlish Warren.
“The scheme is also important as part of the infrastructure needed to enable the planned growth of Dawlish, and for the increased levels of recreation, fitness and health, for local residents.”
Sustrans regional manager Paola Spivach commented: “We’re delighted to have secured funding to extend the Exe Estuary Trail as part of Sustrans National Cycle Network 2 through the Warren into Dawlish.
“Cycling infrastructure offers outstanding value for money, and one of the best aspects of this new route is that it will be a great resource for both local commuters and new visitors alike. We look forward to getting stuck in with the local community to make this happen.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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8 comments
This all sounds quite mysterious to me. When I lived in Exeter 12 years ago I used to ride to Dawlish and back along the coast path a couple of times a week (stopping for refreshment at Port Royal, Double Locks, Turf Locks - and in case of emergency the Boat House).
Have they tarmacked the whole path now? All the way along the estuary wall from Turf to Powderham?
Basically, yes. There's a new bridge over the railway after Turf locks as well. You do get put out onto a road from there to Starcross but its the back lane around the back of Powderham castle. So not that bad.
This is great news. I was planning on cycling from Exmouth to Starcross with the Mrs in summer, but this should mean that eventually we'll be able to go right the way into Dawlish.
Luminosity - while I agree with the lack of cycle routes in the centre of Exeter (although I would maybe say lack of quality bike routes - there is a fair amount of lines painted down the side of roads) I'm not sure what you mean by "no secure bike parking in the centre". There are plenty of bike racks which are very well used. Unless you're after something more than the usual Sheffield type stands.
The Boniface Trail Group are campaigning for a cycle route from Crediton. If you search for them they've got a Facebook page which seems quite active.
Graham - This is more a wish list than anything else but - according to chat with Sustrans - ECC has been in receipt of monies to make a "cycling city" or some such and I see little evidence of them actually doing much.
1. There are lockable cycle cages at St David's but none in the City Centre. If cycle paths are to really work well, they would be a great asset, allowing people to shop in Exeter by bike - while leaving their bikes securely.
2. Great having proposed routes from Tiverton and Crediton (more on that in one sec.) BUT immediately you enter the Cowley Bridge area you're onto a very busy main road. No cycle paths nor accommodation for cyclists made right into the city (no white lines, zilch, nada). And the state of the roads is abysmal.
3. The Crediton to Exeter proposed cycle path will not take the shortest route (the railway line or road) because of costs (apparently). So what they seem to have decided is to take it through dangerous back roads where tractors, mud and stupidly fast drivers roam (plenty of blind bends too) and link it with the proposed Tiverton route. Apart from being a very long way into Exeter, this road floods. Did I say road? I did - it's not a cycle path at all. So what will happen is the few who use the A377 will continue to do so and there'll be bu**er all increase in cycling (IMHO).
I thought I'd heard there were distant plans to link Tiverton. That would be amazing!
Tiverton could be linked quite easily along the old Tiverton Exeter railway...
This is good though and at least you can get to the Exeter docks by bike easily, just need the bit up the hill!
This is, of course, great news. The major link would be to the centre of Exeter. Alas, there are still precious few cycle paths in the city centre of Exeter and no secure bike parking in the centre. The major commuter towns - Crediton in particular - have no cycling links into Exeter, just very busy main roads. So thumbs up but a very long way to go....