Newton Abbot gets new cycle route

It's instead of axed bus link

A ‘much-needed’ new route to give cyclists the chance to avoid a narrow main road in and out of Newton Abbot has been given the green light.

The first stage of the new, shared walking and cycling route between Newton Abbot and Ogwell received the unanimous backing of Teignbridge Council’s executive when it met on Tuesday.

The council will spend £190,000 of government money to open the new route, a move welcomed by Cllr Jackie Hook (Lib Dem, Bushell), who said: “I cycled up that main road once and vowed I would never do it again!”

Councillors heard that the Ogwell Strategic Link should lead to “significantly more appeal and safety for cycling” between the village and the town, avoiding the busy A381 Totnes Road. Conditional planning permission for the path was granted in 2019.

Back then, when Homes England gave Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton special ‘garden community’ status, the £190,000 was awarded for the controversial Bradley Lane bus link which was axed after public objections.

That cash can now go on the cycle path project, but it must be spent in the current financial year.

Ogwell Strategic Link (Image: TDC)

Phase one focuses on the Baker’s Park area and a stretch of route past the tennis courts. Subsequent phases connect into Beverley Way and onward via Bunting Close into Ogwell.

Eventually it will link the village with cycle routes to Newton Abbot town centre and the railway, Stover Trail and Wray Valley Trail, and potentially to Torbay, the Teign Estuary Trail and on to the existing Exe Estuary Trail to Exeter and Exmouth.

A byelaw currently bans cycling in Baker’s Park, but the council is working to amend that.

Cllr Gary Taylor (Lib Dem, Dawlish SW) said the path was ‘much-needed’ and added: “It will provide a safer and preferable alternative to the busy and often challenging main road.

“Newton Abbot residents are keen on the environmental benefits such a scheme would deliver for the town.”

Cllr Paul Parker (South Devon Alliance, Ambrook) drew attention to a ‘blind corner’ near Buntings Close where he had been clipped by a cyclist while measuring the path on the morning of the meeting, and it was agreed that this could be addressed during a later phase of the project.