by Alan Quick
The Boniface Trail Association, which comprises local councillors, cycle and walking enthusiasts as well as local residents and organisation representatives, says it is fully committed to establishing a trail that, as well as being suitable for both cyclists and walkers, will also be fully mobility scooter, wheelchair and family friendly.
It has organised the drop-in consultation, which will be held in the Club Room at Newton St Cyres Parish Hall from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, July 16.
Members of the group will be available to answer questions and provide further information about the proposed trail.
Recently the association has been appealing to members of the public to complete a simple questionnaire, the results of which, it says, have been a great help in shaping the public need for the trail.
900 PEOPLE
In excess of 900 people have, so far, completed the questionnaire or made comments about the need for the cycle route and footpath.
The association said this input is helping design the trail to be attractive to as many people as possible and it was pleased that the high response confirmed a high demand for the cycle route and footpath.
Newton St Cyres Parish Councillor Paul Taylor, chairman of the association, said that the route favoured, at present, is to follow, where possible, the A377 from Crediton to Exeter.
He thanked fellow Newton St Cyres Parish Councillor Steve Parker, who is behind the proposed route and has been a key figure in the campaign.
He explained that Mr Parker oversees the maintenance of footpaths as part of his duties as a parish councillor for Newton St Cyres.
Mr Parker said there is a lot of support for the project.
He said that the route between Smallbrook, Quicke’s Farm, Newton St Cyres, and the village of Half Moon to Langford Bridge has been strongly supported in principle by landowners and Steve thanked the owners of Quicke’s, and other landowners, who had worked with the parish council and the group in support for the cycle/footpath.
Mr Parker said he was now speaking with other landowners and assisting the group in pushing forward with the aim of a complete route.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
He said that the association had, to date, received financial support from Newton St Cyres Parish Council, Upton Pyne Parish Council and Crediton Town Council. Mid Devon District Council (via Councillors John Downes and Nick Way) and Devon County Council (via Cllr Mrs Margaret Squires) are also likely to support small grant applications.
However, he explained that the group would be in need of substantial funds, in the tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of pounds, to achieve the full route.
He said there were many issues involved, not just practical building of the route but also maintenance and legal issues.
VIA NEW SCHOOL
He said that the route could possibly go via the new Newton St Cyres Primary School, when constructed. He also said it was the link from Cowley to Exeter, which would provide the biggest challenge, but that the Association was continuing to investigate possible solutions for this part of the route.
Here there are questions about how to cross the river and rail lines, but also noting that if the Dawlish alternative rail line is via Crediton, this could increase usage of the line which would have a bearing on future plans.
Mr Taylor hoped that Tesco shopping bag monies, Landfill funding and Section 106/CIL monies, and European “Real Devon” funding could help the project as well as government funding and further Lottery funding.
CHARITY REGISTRATION
Mr Taylor is currently registering the group as a charity with the Charities Commission and the registration process is nearly completed. He considered this was likely to further enable funding sources to be available.
The Boniface Trail Association is supported by Sustainable Crediton. The group comprises, in addition to Mr Taylor and Mr Parker, Sustainable Transport supporter Laura Conyngham, cycling supporters Bob Lunnon and Sam Robbins, Clive Smith (Upton Pyne), Newton St Cyres resident Nick Dyer, Nick Way (Mid Devon District and County Councillor), Margaret Squires (County Councillor), John Downes (Mid Devon District Councillor), Jane Hole (providing much appreciated administration assistance). and Roger Cashmore, a former Newton St Cyres Parish Councillor, was also heavily involved in establishing the group, providing valuable IT assistance. The Association is seeking engineering advise from Kim Littlewood, a civil engineer with experience in cycle paths.
The simple questionnaire the public is asked to complete, and circulate to friends, may be completed on-line or a paper version can be downloaded.
The questionnaire can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/bonifacetrailcampaign/ .
• What do you think of plans for a cycle-way and footpath from Crediton to Exeter? Share your views with fellow “Courier” readers. Write a letter, suitable for publication, to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF or email: [email protected] .