Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/103) seeking Scheme Approval for Phase 2 Buttercombe Lane to Foxhunters of the Tarka Trail Willingcott to Knowle Scheme, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared for Members at the meeting, is attached, and can be found at - Tarka Trail - Willingcott to Knowle - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk).

RESOLVED

(a) that the construction of the Buttercombe Lane to Foxhunters section of the Tarka Trail, as shown in Appendix 1, at an estimated cost of £583,100, be approved; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and the relevant Local Member be given delegated authority to approve minor amendments to the scheme details and finalise the acquisition of land for the scheme.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered theReport of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/23/103) which sought Scheme Approval for the Phase 2 section between Buttercombe Lane and Foxhunters of the Tarka Trail Willingcott to Knowle Scheme, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Cabinet noted that the Council had secured £930,000 funding from the fourth round of the Government’s Active Travel Fund to progress the completion of the Tarka Trail between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.  There were six sections to deliver in the coming years between the settlements of Willingcott and Knowle. Two of the sections were either constructed or committed with funding approval.

The trail had very high usage with over 300 cyclists per hour in the summer at Fremington Quay. It was popular with leisure users and commuters who were able to travel safely, conveniently and enjoy the related health benefits.

Appendix 2 provided a plan showing the scheme phases of the overall route. The aspiration was for the completed section between Knowle and Willingcott to be mostly off road, segregated from traffic, with the exception of the recently approved section of 385m length on Nethercott Road, where the alternative route options were limited.

The scheme would see the creation of a new section of the Tarka Trail between Buttercombe Lane and Foxhunters on the alignment of the old Barnstaple to Ilfracombe rail line. It would deliver approximately 700m of new shared use path of 3.5m width and 1m wide verges alongside most of the path. New drainage culverts would be installed, vegetation cut back with rest areas of varying size, including one with a small picnic area. The scheme had been through a ‘design review’ process with Active Travel England Inspectors.

The path would be a shared use path, using traditional asphalt construction, so useable by all people walking, wheeling and cycling and also suitable for horse riders.

The Cabinet noted that as part of the formal consultation, only one public comment had been received, but also that various letters of support had been received and were included in Appendix 3 of the Report.

The Willingcott to Knowle cycle route would enable more walking, wheeling and cycling and encourage more sustainable lifestyles with health-related benefits and supporting the local economy by connecting up communities in North Devon for tourism and leisure activity.  The table in the Report summarised how the proposals aligned with the relevant Strategic Plan actions according to a seven-point scale (responding to the Climate Emergency, being ambitious for Children and Young People, investing in Devon’s economic recovery and tackling poverty and inequality, improving health and wellbeing and helping communities to be safe, connected and resilient).

This phase of the Tarka Trail was estimated to cost £583,100 including contingency, funded from the £783,100 of capital funding received from the fourth round of the Active Travel Fund, which was contributing towards the section of the trail on Nethercott Road (approved by North Devon HATOC for construction up to £200,000).

This budget had been included in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 capital programme.

An Impact Assessment had been prepared for the attention of Members and had been circulated with the meeting agenda, and was available at - Tarka Trail - Willingcott to Knowle - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk). It was expected that the scheme would benefit all residents in the geographical area due to increased connectivity between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, without the need to remove highway space as well as increase walking and cycling tourism in the area, improving economic prosperity. A potential negative impact could be seen for land owners, whose land would be required for the trail, however these would be compensated through the mitigation processes.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Davis, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the construction of the Buttercombe Lane to Foxhunters section of the Tarka Trail, as shown in Appendix 1, at an estimated cost of £583,100, be approved; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and the relevant Local Member be given delegated authority to approve minor amendments to the scheme details and finalise the acquisition of land for the scheme.