Councillors have approved proposals to construct the latest section of the Tarka Trail between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.
The £583,000 scheme supported at yesterday’s (Wednesday 13 December) Cabinet meeting will complete a missing link between Buttercombe Lane and Foxhunters as part of a longer-term route to eventually connect Barnstaple to Ilfracombe.
This new stretch is the second phase of the project and will be built using Active Travel Funding which Devon County Council received following a successful bid to Government earlier this year.
The scheme is delivering around 700 metres of shared use path, while also installing drainage culverts and creating a picnic area and several other rest areas.
The first phase from Willingcott Holiday Village to Buttercombe Lane has been built but requires access at either end.
A route at the holiday village is under construction by a third party as part of a planning permission, and North Devon HATOC recently approved construction for a section at Nethercott Road.
Devon County Council’s aspiration is for the Tarka Trail to eventually be mostly off road and segregated from traffic between Knowle and Willingcott, with the exception of the short section on Nethercott Road, where the alternative route options are limited.
Currently, the Tarka Trail is off-road from Barnstaple to Braunton Police Station before it transfers on-road to Willingcott Bridge Junction, just north of Georgeham.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said:
“Once completed, this high-quality multi-use trail will extend the social and economic benefits of the very popular Tarka Trail to the wider communities in North Devon. The scheme builds upon recently completed works and will finish the section of route between the A361 and the holiday village. Our aim is to create an almost entirely traffic-free route to connect communities between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe and we will continue to seek funding opportunities for the remaining gaps between Willingcott and Knowle.”
Councillor Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, and County Councillor for Combe Martin Rural, said:
“By providing a safe, off-road route more people will be encouraged to walk and cycle to work, place of education or in their leisure time which can help save money, while also improving health and the local environment. These latest improvements will provide an alternative to car journeys which will contribute towards our net zero carbon targets in the county.”
The proposals received cross-party support at the meeting.
Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said:
“I welcome this and well done to everyone involved. It’s exactly the kind of scheme we should be trying to progress.”
Councillor Carol Whitton, Leader of the Labour Group, said:
“I absolutely welcome this, I’m just sorry it’s taken so long, but it’s great that it’s on its way and look forward to final and full completion.”
Councillor Frank Biederman, Leader of the Independent Group, said:
“This will have a wider benefit for North Devon. We have probably one of the most successful parts of the Tarka Trail in my ward. The ability for people to be able to go further and out towards these villages and for them to come and enjoy some of the cafes and restaurants in my ward means it’s an all-round good story for North Devon and I really welcome it.”
Devon County Council secured £930,000 earlier this year from the fourth round of the Government’s Active Travel Fund to progress the completion of missing links on the Tarka Trail between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. Completing the gaps in the Tarka Trail is identified in the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan 2011-2031 and the Devon Transport Infrastructure Plan
The planning application for this phase of the route was approved in October this year.