Thank You! Campaigners turned out in unprecedented numbers to show their support for cycle paths from Tiverton and Crediton to Exeter at the meeting of the County Highways and Traffic Orders Committee meeting held in Tiverton on 22 October. Cycle paths had been put on the Committee's agenda by Crediton Councillor Nick Way.

One Councillor said: "I've never seen so many in the public gallery at one time". Chair of the meeting, Cllr Des Hannon (a keen cyclist himself), moved the item up the agenda and members of the Committee, unusually, agreed to let cycle path campaigners speak.

Cllr Laura Conyngham, Chair of Sustainable Crediton's transport group which organised the lobbying effort, had cycled to the meeting with a group of others from her Crediton home after an early morning interview on BBC Radio Devon.

Presenting a petition with nearly 50 signatures from the Green Party, she said: "The Council needs to know that this is really important to people, so that it happens.

"Anyone who has tried cycling on the A377 knows that it feels like a death-trap", continued Laura. "And much of it is too narrow. Drivers get frustrated with being backed up, so everyone is unhappy."

Crediton Town Councillor John Downes, a member of Sustainable Crediton's core group, added: "This is a real opportunity to create infrastructure people will use. People want to cycle, and if they can, it will help with our air pollution problem. A cycle route is achievable, a real opportunity for the town, and will benefit other road users too."

Yvonne Pope, Secretary of Crediton and District Access Group, called for disabled people to be considered when the plans were made.

Others present in the public gallery included the Rev. Preb. Nigel Guthrie, his son George Guthrie and a representative of the Exeter group of the Cyclists' Touring Club.

Mark Bailey, Development Worker at Tiverton based Involve, which supports voluntary action in Mid Devon, said: "Commuting on the busy A roads round here, like the A396, is really no fun for cyclists. And a cycle path along the Exe would be such a pleasure for so many local people and visitors, who are frightened to get on their bikes at the moment".

The Devon County Council officer present reported that while a feasibility study for the route had been carried out, an analysis of this had not yet been undertaken. The route was in the second tranche of potential projects from 2015 to 2017, for which funding had not yet been identified.

Nick Way commented that he was "a bit disappointed" that more information about the feasibility study had not been put before the meeting.  

It certainly is disappointing.  Right now, it seems clear that these cycle paths are not a priority for the County Council.  Committee Chair Des Hannon's view is that without strong public support, which all the other cycle routes have enjoyed, these ones are unlikely to happen.  He said that the demonstration of interest in the public gallery was very important in getting the Council to prioritise the cycle routes.

Des Hannon is a cyclist and a member of Sustrans. His wife, he said, had stopped him cycling on the A396 because he had been "nearly killed on numerous occasions".

"It is very helpful that we have serious public interest", he told the Committee, adding that in his view the route from Crediton to Exeter should be prioritised over the route to Tiverton, as it would be less expensive to build, and be well used.

The Committee agreed unanimously that the prioritisation of these cycle routes should be raised with the County Council's cabinet, and the matter brought back to the Committee for further discussion.

Keep an eye on the website for further developments!  And remember that without a lot more lobbying and action, these cycle paths will certainly not be built.