Volunteers behind train track trail plans seek support
Members of the public are being invited to scrutinise plans to transform an old railway line into a new traffic-free trail between four Mid Devon villages.
A group of villagers from Willand, Uffculme, Culmstock and Hemyock want to link their communities by opening up parts of the former Culm Valley Light Railway as a path for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
The Culm Valley Trail public meeting will allow members of the public to find out more about the project and there will be a chance to sign a petition of support or join the team behind the plans.
For several months volunteers have been working to establish contact with landowners along the route and garner support from them.
The new sections might not be accessible to all in the near future but it is a long-term aspiration to make them so.
Funding for the project has been pledged from several sources and advice has been sought on the types of surface which might be used.
Volunteer Richard Foord, from Uffculme, said the trail would be a major asset to the area. It would also result in a safe route to school for hundreds of pupils.
“More and more people want to make short journeys on foot or by bicycle,” he said.
“This will be a beautiful route which we believe will benefit local people enormously in terms of access to the countryside, health and well-being. It also has the potential to bring tourists and jobs to our villages, as the Tarka and Camel trails have done in North Devon and Cornwall.”
The group predicts that visitors will be attracted by the path’s proximity to Tiverton Parkway railway station, which is already connected to Willand on the national cycle network.
The project has received financial support from Uffculme, Culmstock and and Hemyock parish councils.
Further funding is pledged from Viridor Credits and the Blackdown Hills AONB's Sustainable Development Fund.
The organisers hope that the open day will generate the interest and support needed to progress the remaining sections, though it is recognised that diversions from the disused railway line will be required in places.
The trail will be completed one section at a time. First in line to be opened is a section at Culmstock which is owned by Mid Devon District Council. It has been cleared of brambles in recent months and an all-weather surface will be laid later this year.
The meeting will take place on Saturday, February 4, between 11am and 12.30pm at Culmstock Village Hall.
2 Comments
by Culmstock1
Wednesday, February 08 2012, 9:36AM
“Also as a resident of Culmstock I have seen wide spread support for the trail. Using the waste ground the old disused railway line runs over is a great idea. Describing it as a "important wildlife refuge is a bit of a joke. It is only full of brambles and stunted trees. The trees on the line can't grow properly because of all the stones left when the track was removed.
The line starts 45 meters from the road and has a public footpath anyone can use to get to it. Being a footpath cyclists can walk their bike as well and they would have to dismount anyway because of the gate at the road. At the other end of the railway line is another footpath people can also use
I attended the 4 feb meeting and there were people for and against the trail but most were for it and some of the ideas against it were very silly. I heard one person say he was against it as Devon County Council had reduced the amount of money they give to children in care from £200 to £50 for Christmas presents!
I can't understand why anyone would not be in favour of laying a footpath on an old railway line so that the whole community including those with pushchairs and wheelchairs can use it as well as a commuter route for our children to cycle to and from school.
I'd be very happy to show your reporter around as well and introduce them to a lot of people in favour of the trail.”
by rga2407
Saturday, January 28 2012, 12:53PM
“An interesting slant. As a resident of Culmstock, I can say that there is widespread anger about the Council's actions. The work on the Culmstock section has decimated an important wildlife refuge.
The 'track' starts about 100 yds from the road, across private land, and ends in somebody's back garden. A cycle track with no cycle access at either end. What an incredible waste of public money, what an appalling act of vandalism, and what a great encouragement for cyclists to cycle on footpaths.
Many of us will be attending the meeting on Feb 4. I suggest you report the views of the real people, rather than those intent on pushing this futility through, whatever the cost.
I'd be very happy to show your reporter around and introduce them to a few people... Just a pity he/she didn't talk to us in the first place.
Rob Arnold
Garden Close
Culmstock”