Totnes and Littlehempston Cycle / Footpath Scheme and the Council's Cycling and Multiuse Trail (Minute 275 of 20 February 2020)
To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 478) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Hodgson and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely;
‘That the proposed Cycle and footpath link scheme between Totnes and Littlehempston be added to the County Council’s current Cycling and Multiuse Trail strategy as this will
1. provide an important non-vehicular link between Totnes and its adjacent parish and village centre in Littlehempston
2. support the SHDC A385 Air Quality Management Action Plan (it is listed as an action) to address traffic congestion and air quality in Totnes and environs,
3. complete an important missing link of the national NC2 cycle route (which when complete will link Dover in Kent with St Austell in Cornwall) supporting commuters as well as tourism
4. thereby support DCC’s declaration of a climate emergency
Having had regard to the aforementioned, the full background and current position as set out in Report PTE/20/4 and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting, the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
Council be recommended;
(a) that no further work is undertaken on investigating whether the footbridge could be used by the public and the development of a multi-use trail to Littlehempston and Newton Abbot; and
(b) that Compulsory Purchase Order for Bulliver Bridge should not be pursued as it cannot be justified.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 275 of 20th February 2020 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Hodgson that:
‘That the proposed Cycle and footpath link scheme between Totnes and Littlehempston be added to the County Council’s current Cycling and Multiuse Trail strategy as this will
1. provide an important non-vehicular link between Totnes and its adjacent parish and village centre in Littlehempston
2. support the SHDC A385 Air Quality Management Action Plan (it is listed as an action) to address traffic congestion and air quality in Totnes and environs,
3. complete an important missing link of the national NC2 cycle route (which when complete will link Dover in Kent with St Austell in Cornwall) supporting commuters as well as tourism
4. thereby support DCC’s declaration of a climate emergency
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 478 of 11 March 2020:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that;
(a) no further work is undertaken on investigating whether the footbridge could be used by the public and the development of a multi-use trail to Littlehempston and Newton Abbot; and
(b) Compulsory Purchase Order for Bulliver Bridge should not be pursued as it cannot be justified.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
Councillor Hodgson then MOVED and Councillor Shaw SECONDED that the Motion be amended to read as follow;
(a) that Council be recommended to reconsider the Cabinet Recommendation in the light of the new health and wellbeing needs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
(b) support local initiatives for multiuse trail routes from Totnes to Littlehempston (and on to Newton Abbot) and Totnes to Stoke Gabriel (and on to Torbay) through Government funding that seeks to implement Active Travel measures that will assist behaviour changes through increased safe pedestrian and cycling provision.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hodgson was then put to the vote and declared LOST.
Councillor Hook then MOVED and Councillor Dewhirst SECONDED that the Motion amended by the addition of (c) as outlined below;
(c) In the interest of maintaining this scheme and keeping this motion alive, this authority enters into negotiations with the royal engineers and invites them to undertake a training exercise by constructing a bailey bridge across the River Dart in an appropriate position, thus satisfying local Members’ ambition to keep this scheme alive.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hook was then put to the vote and declared LOST.
The motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.