Dear Bob Edwards

I’M delighted that you have been following the Boniface trail correspondence (Crediton Courier, December 4).

There is plenty of cost/benefit analysis on cycle routes in general and for this route (the A377/railway route) in particular.

Devon highways do consultations for each cycle route. In terms of questionnaires completed Teignbridge had 396, Barnstaple had 385 and Exeter 726. The Boniface Trail had 828!

Clearly, the cost benefit is based on population numbers in Crediton and Exeter, the length of the route and its cost. Again the Boniface Trail does well in this regard.

Building cycle routes is a choice and has to be seen in the right context. It has nothing to do with potholes.

It is about the climate change crisis and it is about the cost of living crisis.

Building the Boniface Trail isn’t just a nice thing. It’s an essential piece of infrastructure that will enable thousands of people to cycle between Crediton and Exeter safely.

Most people I know don’t have a bus pass and find paying for transport a challenge financially.

Providing a direct and safe cycle route would be a real game changer, saving money for those cycling as well as providing truly sustainable travel. It would also ease the burden on the train and road.

Please feel to chat with me about the Boniface Trail whenever you like.

Giles Fawssett

Albert Place

Crediton