Agenda item

The following Notice of Motion submitted to the County Council by Councillor Hodgson, has been referred to the Cabinet for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), to refer it to another committee or make a recommendation back to the Council:

(a)   Totnes and Littlehempston Cycle / Footpath Scheme and the Council’s Cycling and Multiuse Trail (Councillor Hodgson)

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/20/4) on the Totnes and Littlehempston Cycle / Footpath Scheme and the Council's Cycling and Multiuse Trail, in response to the Notice of Motion submitted to the County Council (Minute 275 of 20th February 2020) by Councillor Hodgson, attached.

(Councillor Hodgson attended in accordance with Standing Order 8 and as Local Member and Councillors Dewhirst, Hannaford and Whitton attended in accordance with 25(2) and spoke to this item).

Councillor Hawkins had submitted a written response which the Leader read out to the meeting, highlighting that access via Littlehempston and Totnes via the bridge was important to his community.

The Report provided a briefing to support the Cabinet in its consideration of a Notice of Motion on Totnes and Littlehempston Cycle / Footpath Scheme and the Council's Cycling and Multiuse Trail, submitted to Council on 20 February 2020 and in accordance with Standing Order 6(6) had been referred, without discussion, to the Cabinet for consideration (Council Minute 275 refers). The Notice of Motion is outlined below:

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

The Report highlighted the background to the issue including the local aspiration, access to a privately-owned bridge and the strategic need for a scheme. On 29 November 2019, South Hams Highways and Traffic Orders Committee had reviewed the issue of public access across the South Devon Railway (SDR) pedestrian bridge and resolved that ‘given the lack of progress over time, Cabinet be recommended to investigate the public use of the pedestrian railway bridge by compulsory purchase if necessary, given its importance and benefit as a public amenity’ (Minute 84 referred).

Cabinet subsequently considered the matter on 15 January 2020 and resolved ‘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 and that Compulsory Purchase Order should not be pursued as it cannot be justified‘ (Cabinet Minute *450 referred). However, in line with paragraph 10.3 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, Councillor Hodgson (as Local Member) asked that the matter referred back to the Cabinet for further consideration. At the Cabinet meeting on 14 February 2020, the matter had been deferred given the submission of the Notice of Motion.

The Report then outlined in detail the scheme context, including the geography of Littlehempston, transport links and bus services, the A381 corridor, constraints of the River Dart, the history of the privately owned Bulliver Bridge (including funding of the footbridge), upkeep and maintenance of the bridge, meetings between South Devon Railway, local Members and the over a number of years, storage of rolling stock and antiquities at Totnes station, the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and access, the animals and current security issues and threats including vandalism.

The Report also referred to wider route development acknowledging that developing a route from Totnes to Littlehempston would be challenging with hilly topography and a narrow lane network. Current data showed that multi-use trails have the greatest usage in coastal locations, with sizeable population catchments, level gradients and a number of attractions en route. It was felt that utility trips on the Totnes to Littlehempston route would be low due to the small number of commuters and students, the rural location, challenging topography and remoteness.

The Council’s adopted Multi-Use Trail Strategy, published in March 2015, did not include the Totnes to Newton Abbot route in its current development strategy, the existing strategy also being very oversubscribed, with a lack of external funding opportunities limiting progress. If the route was included in a future strategy, a strategic planning application would be required. However, with the number of landowners affected, and sensitive environment, the process could be costly and potentially contentious.

The Report finally outlined the criteria for Compulsory Purchase Order and highlighted at this stage the bridge on its own did not fulfil these criteria, therefore, a compulsory purchase order should not be pursued as it could not be justified. It was also felt that modal shift as a result of delivering a Totnes to Littlehempston multi-use trail was expected to be limited due to the low forecast usage and as a result, the expected air quality and climate change benefits would be negligible.

The Cabinet Member for Highways Management concluded by acknowledging the long local aspiration for a walking and cycling connection between Totnes and the village of Littlehempston as well as the potential to use the existing (privately-owned) bridge over the River Dart which connected to the South Devon Railway and Totnes Rare Breeds Farm. He commented that despite multiple discussions with the owners, through route access for pedestrians and cyclists had not been agreed due to safety and security concerns.

In addition, he reiterated that a Compulsory Purchase Order could not be justified on this route, due to a lack of inclusion for the route in the Multi-Use Trail Strategy, no funding allocation for its delivery, no planning permission and no certainty that the route could be extended to form a strategic connection to Newton Abbot.

The Cabinet considered the recommendation now before them and the actions now proposed and the other relevant factors (e.g. public health, financial, environmental, risk management and equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact).

It was then MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED that 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.