Totnes to Littlehempston

Proposed Cycle Route

Comparison of Possible Alternative Options

November 2011

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to summarise the results of a preliminary study of possible alternative options for a cycle route from Totnes to Littlehempston.

Background

The County Council’s Strategic Cycle Network envisages a long distance cycle route from Axminster to Plymouth, forming part of the NCN2 south coast national cycle route.

The section of the NCN2 on the western side of the Exe Estuary from Exeter to Dawlish (part of the Exe Estuary Trail) is expected to be completed by 2013, and investigatory work is currently in progress for the continuation of this route along the northern side of the Teign Estuary from Teignmouth to Newton Abbot.

A preferred alignment for the continuation of the NCN2 route from Newton Abbot to Totnes has yet to be agreed, and no funding to construct such a scheme has been identified, but a possible primarily on-road route has been considered via Denbury, Broadhempston and Staverton.

In Totnes, the existing cycling infrastructure is located primarily to the south of the river, with a mainly traffic-free shared use path to Dartington and on to Huxhams Cross, where the NCN2 signed route continues to South Brent, Ivybridge and Plymouth.

Two main options therefore exist for linking Totnes to the NCN2 – either via Dartington to Huxhams Cross, or alternatively via Littlehempston to Staverton. It is possible that a case could be made for both these routes in order to optimise the use of the cycle network for local journeys.

The purpose of this report is to present the outcome of a preliminary study into the feasibility of a number of possible alternative routes for a cycle route from Totnes to Littlehempston.

Alternative Options Considered

Five main options were investigated and are illustrated in the plans attached:

Option 1. An on-road route via Bourton Lane;

Option 2. A route partly alongside the A381 and partly following a public right of way through Littlehempston Woods via an existing bridge under the railway. Option 2a) is an alternative alignment;

Option 3. A route utilising the existing footbridges over the river and the South Devon Railway;

Option 4. A route mainly following the west bank of the river, with alternative alignments (Options 4a, 4b and 4c);

Option 5. A route via Dartington and Staverton.

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11 Appendices

Appendix I shows the existing public roads, private roads and public footpaths in the Littlehempston/ Totnes area.

Appendix II shows a possible on-road route for the NCN2 from Totnes to Newton Abbot.

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