Cullompton relief road 'in limbo'

Cash shortfall blocks progress

A new Cullompton relief road is in limbo after a bid for government cash was rejected for a second time.

Councillors believe the planned road to the east of the town is essential for the town, improving capacity at the town’s M5 junction, reducing traffic through the town centre and unlocking the development of 2,000 homes nearby.

It would also provide improved pedestrian and cycle access to the planned new Cullompton railway station, which could be in use by 2025.

But Mid Devon District Council remains short of around two-thirds of the road’s projected £28 million cost after failing again in its bid to the government’s flagship levelling-up scheme, despite backing from local MP Richard Foord and Devon County Council.

Originally set to cost £15 million, the road has now ballooned to a projected £28 million; blamed on increased construction costs, replacing sporting facilities and the potential amount needed to buy land.

Planning permission has already been granted, along with finding a new home for Cullompton Cricket Club which will need to relocate. However it now appears unclear where the remaining cash needed to build the road will come from.

Councillor Richard Chesterton (Conservative, Lower Culm), Mid Devon’s cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, calling it “extremely disappointing that Mid Devon has once again been unsuccessful.”

He defended the bid as being a “high quality submission,” adding: “Clearly, the decision not to fund the delivery of the relief road will now directly limit housing and economic growth within Cullompton and have implications for the district as a whole.”

Mid Devon says it will now “seek other funding opportunities to support the delivery of the relief road whilst progressing the delivery of other key infrastructure projects, including the re-opening of Cullompton railway station by May 2025.”

East Devon District Council has also had its £11 million bid to develop the Axe Valley, which included improving the seafront at Seaton and developing new office and work spaces in Axminster, turned down.

Leader of East Devon, Councillor Paul Arnott (Independent East Devon Alliance, Coly Valley), said: “This is disappointing news for the town centre in Axminster and the seafront in Seaton.

“However, East Devon District Council remains firmly behind both towns which will be central to our work and thinking this year.”

Tiverton & Honiton MP Richard Foord (Liberal Democrat), who supported both bids, described their rejections as a “body blow for our communities, who have been crying out for this vital investment for years.”

He added: “By failing to honour their commitments to level up our part of Devon, the Conservatives have shown just how woefully out of touch they are.

“It’s clear they are continuing to take our communities for granted and have yet to hear the message from their by-election loss last summer.

“People across Tiverton & Honiton will rightly be outraged by this decision, which is holding up key projects like the Cullompton Relief Road and investment in both Axminster and Seaton.”

Three other bids in Devon were successful in this round of Levelling Up funding, with a total of £45 million going towards an extension to Dinan Way in Exmouth along with town centre transport improvements, a new railway station at Okehampton and a Clean Maritime Innovation Centre in Appledore, Torridge.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp (Conservative) described the Dinan Way extension as “excellent news for Exmouth,” while fellow Tory MP for Torridge, Sir Geoffrey Cox, said the maritime project has “huge potential to create economic and employment opportunity and further investment in our area.”

Levelling-up secretary Michael Gove said: “This new funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and help to restore local pride.

“We are delivering on the people’s priorities, levelling up across the UK to ensure that no matter where you are from, you can go as far as your talents will take you.”