From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, April 22, 2008

AMBITIOUS plans to complete The Stop Line Way cycle route from the Bristol Channel to the English Channel have received a boost.

A project officer managed by Sustrans is to be based at Devon County Council's County Hall in Exeter to help with the delivery of the scheme.

The new post will be funded by a partnership of local authorities, comprising Devon County Council, Somerset County Council, South Somerset District Council, and North Somerset District Council, with Sustrans administering the scheme on behalf of the partnership steering group. The new officer will drive forward the completion of the scheme by 2010/11, ahead of the influx of tourists expected for the 2012 Olympics.

Not only will The Stop Line Way be an attraction for visitors, but it will also link communities, with the route in Devon stretching along the River Axe from Seaton to Axminster, which is part of the National Cycle Network 2. It will add to the work already underway on some of the sections from Seaton to Colyford and Kilmington and will extend north to Chard Junction in Somerset. Similar community links will be provided between Weston-Super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea and around Taunton, Bridgwater, Ilminster and Chard.

Adrian Roper, Sustrans South West Regional Manger, said: "This cycle route will be unique, carrying the Stop Line History which is part of our national heritage. Combined with the beautiful scenery and historical towns and villages along the route, I'm sure that visitors will want to return again and again. Sustrans has an excellent track record of devising routes and seeing them through to completion with successful partnerships with local authorities. The Stop Line Way is destined to be one of those great successes."

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, has pledged to give the scheme £3,000 this year and next from county committee locality funds. She said: "We believe this new post based at County Hall can give the project new prominence and will inject a fresh impetus to complete the link through Devon and Somerset. The aim is for a direct, level route which will be a tremendous asset to the region once it's complete.

"Research by the University of Central Lancashire has stated that UK destinations providing green tourism opportunities could benefit greatly in the future from consumers looking for more environmentally-friendly holidays, and this route is sure to benefit the local economy. It will also be a great boost to the regeneration of Seaton and Axminster. It has been predicted that this will become the most popular cycle route in the country, as with gentle gradients it will be family friendly. Its proximity to London and the Home Counties should add to its popularity."

The cycle route was given the name of The Stop Line Way as it runs along the line of defences built during the Second World War. Following the evacuation of the Allies from Dunkirk, the coast of Devon and Cornwall was considered too long to defend so the "Stop Line" of pillboxes and anti-tank gun emplacements was built across the West Country. Many of the concrete structures remain along the line and can be seen from parts of the cycle route.

In addition to the Devon sections, work is needed on several other stretches of the route in Somerset including south of Taunton, around Ilminster, south of Chard and also between Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea.

Notes for Editors:

Councillor Margaret Rogers, 01297 680384.