Councillors have once again rejected calls to compulsory purchase a bridge to enable a proposed cycle and footpath link scheme between Totnes and Littlehempston.
The section in the South Hams, once complete, would fill in the missing link of the national cycle route that eventually will run from Dover in Kent with St Austell in Cornwall.
A proposed cycle path into Totnes via Littlehempston does exist, but relies on permission being granted by the South Devon Railway for cyclists to use the Bulliver Bridge that connects Totnes Littlehempston station on the South Devon Railway to Totnes.
Devon County Council’s cabinet on Wednesday once again recommended to full council that that no further work should be undertaken on investigating whether the footbridge could be used by the public and that a Compulsory Purchase Order should not be pursued as it cannot be justified.
Cllr Stuart Hughes, cabinet member with a responsibility for cycling, said that while there has long been an aspiration for the connection and that the council recognise the potential for the existing privately owned bridge, multiple discussions with the South Devon Railway have led to them having refused permission for it to be used as a public right of way due to their security concerns.
He said while it was unfortunate that they were not prepared to allow the bridge to be shared, a Compulsory Purchase Order should not be pursued as it cannot be justified.
The cabinet initially made the decision in January, but Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, who represents the Totnes and Dartington ward, had both called that decision in for further scrutiny and put forward a motion calling for the proposed Cycle and footpath link scheme between Totnes and Littlehempston be added to the County Council’s current Cycling and Multiuse Trail strategy.
Her call-in and motion were discussed at the cabinet meeting and she said: “While the South Devon Railway has refused to allow the bridge to be used, it has never been fully explored with the railway in practical terms, and the issues of security and not insurmountable.”
Key advantages of the scheme, she said, would include improve air quality on the A385, providing a safe route for young people in rural parishes and for commuters to switch from cars to bikes, and the economic benefits to Littlehempston and Totnes, and urged the cabinet to support her original motion
Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, said the access between Littlehempston and Totnes via the bridge was important to his community and called for continued discussions with the railway as the path could be diverted away from the station to overcome security concerns.
Chairman of the South Devon Cycle Link campaign, Nick Oldridge, had handed in a petition of 3,655 signatures in support of the campaign to help persuade the South Devon Railway to share their footbridge.
He added: “The security concerns can be overcome and solutions have never been investigated and considered.”
Cllr Alistair Dewhirst said that while he supported what was being said, but there comes a point of diminishes returns. He added: “We can ask, cajole, encourage them, but the reality is we don’t own the bridge. We can bang ours head against the brick wall but isn’t going to do much good
“As much as I would like to think South Devon Railway would do the decent thing and open it up, they clearly aren’t going to.”
Dave Black, Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in his report to the meeting, added: “Numerous meetings have taken place between South Devon Railway, local Members and Devon County Council officers over a number of years, the last being in June 2019. However, it has not been possible to agree the use of the bridge as part of a multi-use trail. Loss of this security and the resultant risk of vandalism is a key factor in the South Devon Railway’s reason for not agreeing 24-hour access to the bridge.
“Developing a route from Totnes to Littlehempston, and ultimately on to Newton Abbot, would be challenging. Utility trips on the Totnes to Littlehempston route will be low due to the small number of commuters and students making the daily journey. Its rural location, challenging topography and remoteness will also make this journey less attractive to cyclists and pedestrians.”
He added that there were a number of requirements before land can be compulsory purchased and at this stage the bridge on its own does not fulfil these criteria, and therefore a compulsory purchase order should not be pursued as it cannot be justified.
Cllr John Hart, leader of the council, added: “We need to put the CPO idea to bed as we cannot put a CPO on the bridge.”
The cabinet recommended to full council that no further work should be undertaken on investigating whether the footbridge could be used by the public and the development of a multi-use trail to Littlehempston, and that a Compulsory Purchase Order should not be pursued as it cannot be justified as their response to Cllr Hodgson’s initial motion.
Full council, when they next meet on May 14, will make the final decision.
A South Devon Railway spokesman after the meeting said: “We are not against cycling at all and are in favour of it, but not on our bridge. We would help to find another location.
“While we supports the principle of a cycle path between Totnes Town and Littlehempston as part of National Cycle Route 2 and cycling in general, we do not support the proposed route via our pedestrian footbridge and the private South West Water owned lane.”
The South Devon Cycle Link campaign have started work with architects over a design for an alternative bridge to cross the river in case the Railway do not change their minds.
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Councillors again reject calls to purchase railway bridge for use as cycle link - Devon Live
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