Latest Update from Meeting at County Hall Exeter

NOTES OF TEIGN ESTUARY TRAIL (TET) MEETING,

AT COUNTY HALL, EXETER – FRIDAY 29 JULY 2022 at 10.00am.

 

Present:

DCC – Cllr. Stuart Hughes, Officers – Hannah Clark, Arron Carpenter (on-line), Jamie Hulland,

TDC Officer – Estelle Skinner,

Campaign Group – Judith Staples (on-line), Ben Northcott

Bishopsteignton Parish Council – Henry Merritt

Apologies

DCC – Cllr.Ron Peart

Campaign Group – Bill Bailey, Kate Benham, Rona Boyne

Bishopsteignton Parish Council – Kate Benham, Jo Head, Keith Lambert

 

Background

The meeting had been arranged following a request to Cllr.John Hart – Leader of DCC, from the TET Campaign Group, supported by Bishopsteignton Parish Council, to seek an update following the last meeting of the TET Liaison Group on 12 April.

A welcome and introductions were given prior to the meeting commencing.

Henry Merritt stressed the desire of both Bishopsteignton Parish Council and the Campaign Group to work in partnership with DCC and TDC and to assist where ever possible in progressing the plans for the TET.

It was agreed that it was necessary to agree the information that could be circulated to the community by the Parish Council and the Campaign Group.

Ben Northcott emphasised the strong community desire to see progress with the TET and tabled recent comments made on Facebook, with safety concerns on the A381 being the most common issue raised.

Update

The update was provided by Cllr. Stuart Hughes, DCC Lead Member for Highways, and the officers of DCC and TDC.

The main issues and key challenges ahead for the delivery of the TET from the Passage House Inn to Morrisons, Teignmouth were detailed as the latest scheme estimate, status of land acquisition discussions and the options for financing.

The latest cost estimate of £40 million, which included the estimated cost of land and provision for 20 years routine and habitat maintenance. This is a significant increase over previous estimates.

The section from Dawlish to Teignmouth, the subject of two failed bids for funding (Coastal Communities Fund), is not included in the above estimate and will continue to be progressed as a separate project.

Consideration is currently being given to phasing the project to maximise the potential for external and any internal funding.This included access points being determined. It was noted that ‘Active Travel’ projects to be considered for a bid to the Government’s ‘Levelling up’ initiative was £20 million.

DCC have spent approx. £1million to date on preparatory work, design, land negotiations etc; future budget provision will be made for ongoing design work etc. TDC have also contributed approx. £200,000, plus officer time. A proportion of annual CIL funding is earmarked for Active Travel. TDC work closely with DCC as funding opportunities are identified.

The DCC Highways Capital Programme, allocated by the Department for Transport, is a lowly £3.6 million for the whole county, from which preparatory work will need to be funded. Approximately a third of this budget is spent on cycling.

Following the completion of the Wray Valley Trail; the residual section of the Tarka Trail and the TET are the two priority projects of DCC.

Recent and future meetings

The following update was provided including the focus on ensuring good links and information, and promoting the need for sustainable funding being made available by Central Government for mute-user trails such as the TET

Active Travel Fund, Phase 4 . England – Attended by Cllr. Stuart Hughes, Meg Booth and Jamie Hulland. This fund mainly for high profile urban schemes

Earlier this week a meeting with Anne Marie Morris was held. A future meeting was arranged for the end of September, discussion to include phasing options and the process for advancing Central Government funding being made available for multi-user trails such as the TET

SUSTRANS  re. National Cycle Network. Noted that funds are allocated from National Highways allocations. Meeting with Southern Director scheduled for 1 September

Discussions by DCC Members and officers are ongoing with other ‘key contacts’ – MP’s, including Simon Jupp who chairs the South West group of MP’s and Gary Streeter who leads on active travel, and importantly Councils where similar challenges exist to get cycling and walking trails progressed

 

Conclusion

Henry Merritt, on behalf of Bishopsteignton Parish Council and the Campaign Group, thanked Cllr.Stuart Hughes and the officers of DCC and TDC for making time available to arrange and attend the meeting.

The meeting ended at 11.10.

Notes prepared by Henry Merritt and Judith Staples

 

31 July 2022