I HAVE been following the Boniface Trail correspondence with some interest.

What I have yet to see is any sort of cost/ benefit analysis.

It would clearly be a “nice thing” to have, but these things cost (a lot) of money, and many people are already finding the cost of living accelerating away from their annual income.

The government, be it national or local, does not have its own money – almost all of it must come from taxpayers in one shape or form.

If we're talking about improving the transport network, I think that the state of Devon's roads (especially potholes), including many around Crediton, is by far and away the number one priority.

I imagine that the cost of either of the A377 or the railway route would cost hundreds of thousands, more probably millions, of pounds, and there is no way this money will be found for a scheme which will, at best, be used by a few hundred people (I remember Tesco claiming that about 80 people a day would travel to their store by bike – don't think I've ever seen one).

I believe that the quiet lanes option, though it has obvious demerits, is, mainly because of cost, the only feasible option.

In fact, when I was Mayor of Crediton 20 years ago, I cycled along this route with a former Burgermeister of Fulda; we found it a very pleasant trip – most of Sustainable Crediton's objections to this route are clutching at straws.

Finally, the bus and train services into Exeter are excellent, both for commuters and others.

As I say, until a proper cost/ benefit is done on this, no sensible decision can be made.

I suspect that if it were done honestly, then much of the support for the main road and railway routes would drain away.

If money were no object, then I'd love to see the cycleway built, but local politicians have to make difficult decisions as to how they allocate PUBLIC money.

And in modern Britain, money is very much an object.

Bob Edwards

Salmonhutch

Crediton