Draft notes of Teign Estuary Trail workshop on 11-09-2023
Notes of workshop with representatives of Devon County Council, Teignbridge
District Council, Bishopsteignton Parish Council and the Teign Estuary Trail
Campaign Group on 11 September 2023 at 3.30 pm at County Hall, Exeter
Present (in person):
Cllr Kate Benham, Arron Carpenter, Hannah Clark, Cllr David Cox, Jordan Facey,
Cllr Andrew MacGregor, Cllr Henry Merritt (Chair), Judith Sharples, Estelle Skinner,
Cllr Gary Taylor, Cllr Martin Wrigley
Present (online):
Cllr Keeley Gearon, Cllr Stuart Hughes, John Penaligon
Apologies:
Neil Blaney, Cllr Jackie Hook, Cllr Nina Jeffries, Cllr John Nutley, Cllr Ron Peart
1. Welcome and introductions
The Chair welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. Attendees
introduced themselves. The Chair advised that representatives of Bishopsteignton
Parish Council and the Teign Estuary Trail Campaign Group had been meeting
regularly with representatives of Devon County Council and Teignbridge District
Council for a number of years to receive updates on progress. At the last meeting in
July, it had been suggested that a workshop session be arranged to explore whether
it would be possible to begin work on one section of the Trail between the urban
edge of Teignmouth and the Passage House Hotel using currently available funding.
2. Update from DCC
Hannah Clark reported that the Teign Estuary Trail remains a priority for DCC but, in
any scheme of this nature, there are 3 key challenges which must be overcome:
– Getting planning permission;
– Acquiring land;
– Securing funding.
In the case of the Teign Estuary Trail, conditional planning permission was secured
in December 2021. Physical delivery must commence by or before December 2031
in order for the approval to remain valid. External funding will be required to
construct the Trail but there are no live government funding opportunities that DCC
can pursue at present and bids for external funding are unlikely to succeed until the
land, or some of the land, is acquired. DCC currently has £400k in the capital
programme and plans to increase this by a further £250k subject to Cabinet approval
when the capital programme is considered in October 2023. If agreement cannot be
reached with landowners, DCC could only exercise its CPO powers once it has
secured the funding required to purchase the land.
John Penaligon provided an update on the current position regarding landowner
negotiations. It was noted that council funding used to purchase the land was likely to be treated as ‘match funding’ in any bids for government funding to construct the
Trail (unless any particular fund specifically states this is not permitted).
Jordan Facey provided a breakdown of the current estimated costs of approximately
£38 million across three phases:
Phase 1 – Morrisons to eastern edge of Bishopsteignton
Phase 2 – Eastern edge of Bishopsteignton to Flow Lane
Phase 3 – Flow Lane to Passage House Hotel
It was noted that these costings include 25 years’ maintenance, as well as
construction costs, and costs for meeting biodiversity net gain. It is based on 2022
rates/costs. It does not include an amount for optimism bias (which is considered as
part of funding bids).
A discussion then took place on which section of the Trail should be considered top
priority for a phased approach of delivery. It was noted that the most dangerous
section of the A381, where the greatest local benefits would be unlocked, is between
Bishopsteignton and the Ware Barton roundabout due to the bends and gradients
and lack of pavement (however, the full extent of benefits will be realised only by
delivery of the entire route). Representatives of the Campaign Group and Parish
Council felt that this should be prioritised if possible. The potential to progress the
section between Morrisons junction and the eastern edge of Bishopsteignton was
noted, as this section is largely under public ownership. Further design work is
needed on this section. Cllr Cox also pointed out that the section between Morrisons
and Teignmouth town centre also needs addressing. The preferred route alignment
for this section is not yet defined.
3. Update from TDC
Cllr Wrigley reported that TDC was reviewing its capital programme as part of the
annual budget. There is a consideration for up to £1.5m of Community Infrastructure
Levy (CIL) to be earmarked for prospective use towards delivery of the Teign
Estuary Trail. This funding is not yet approved and would require either Full Council
or Executive Committee consideration and approval for any specific uses.
It was noted that, if the DCC and TDC capital programme allocations are approved,
this would enable landowner negotiations to acquire the land to proceed much more
effectively. It was noted that a footpath / permissive path provision could be an early,
interim approach whilst progressing towards securing funding for phased scheme
construction, if necessary.
It was proposed that, as local town and parish councils have their own CIL
allocations, they should be asked to consider using some of their CIL towards the
cost of the Trail. This would be of notable benefit for evidencing the strong local
support via funding bids.
It was agreed that there was a strong case for using CIL funding to support the Teign
Estuary Trail delivery given the extra traffic that new housing development would
generate on the already busy and constrained A381.
3. It was also noted that it may be possible to access other funding such as the
Valencia Landfill Communities Fund.
4. Next steps
Hannah Clark agreed to draft a proposal that can be shared with local town and
parish councils.
Estelle Skinner said she would need to confirm agreement from TDC Executive and
Shadow Executive councillors with relevant portfolios and, subject to this and a full
Councillor update, then prepare a report for Full Council on 28 the November 2023 with
relevant recommendations to provide further support to the Teign Estuary Trail
project delivery.
It was agreed to hold a further meeting following the TDC full Council meeting on 28
November. This will take place on Tuesday 29 the November at 10.30am at
Bishopsteignton Community Centre.