The pressure is mounting on the Devon County Council to provide safer routes to schools for pupils, particularly in rural areas where the lack of dedicated cycle paths can have severe consequences. Richard Foord, the Liberal Democrat member for Honiton and Sidmouth, has been vocal about the need for the government to support rural local authorities in developing more safe routes for pupils to get to school.
Students at Sidmouth College have been calling for a cycle path between Sidford and Sidmouth because the road between the two villages is narrow, winding, and dangerous, especially for schoolchildren walking or cycling.
- When there is a bus, cost is a barrier.
- Without a dedicated path, young people are missing out on after-school clubs, social time, or extra help with learning.
- A safe cycle path would give those young people real independence; it would help them to stay active and healthy, and it would cut down on car use.
In addition to the lack of cycle paths, the issue of a damaged bridge is also affecting school journeys. Mr Foord pointed out that the Ottery St Mary’s Coleridge bridge, built in 2011, had been damaged by a storm over a year ago, causing parents to have to drive their children to school.
“Of course, protecting our biodiversity and our rivers is vital, but so is the safety of our children. We are having children risk their lives in the dark hours during wintertime by going on very narrow pavements and into the road.”
Mr Foord has asked the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to find a better balance between protecting the environment and ensuring the safety of children. He has also called on Devon County Council to support the King’s School’s proposal for a multi-use path in the Otter Valley from Feniton to Sidmouth along an old railway line.
| Devon County Council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) |
|---|
| Highlights the Otter Valley among ten routes across Devon it wants to support. |
| Identifies the Otter Valley scheme as one of two designated as ‘medium-term’ priorities. |
In December, the county council outlined its Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which includes the Otter Valley among ten routes across Devon that it wants to support. The Otter Valley scheme is one of two designated as ‘medium-term’ priorities, putting it below three classified as ‘short-term’. The county council has also announced plans to invest £7.7 million in walking and cycling routes across the county, with £3.9 million coming from Active Travel England. This investment will include the development of walking and cycling routes, pedestrian crossing improvements in places such as Ivybridge, Great Torrington, and Sidmouth, and the investigation of so-called “schools streets opportunities” to support safer routes to schools.
The Devon County Council’s plans highlight the need for more investment in cycling and walking infrastructure to support the safety and well-being of children and young people.
Key Points
- Devon County Council’s Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) includes the Otter Valley among ten routes across Devon it wants to support.
- The Otter Valley scheme is one of two designated as ‘medium-term’ priorities.
- The county council has announced plans to invest £7.7 million in walking and cycling routes across the county.
Quote from Richard Foord
“When there is a bus, cost is a barrier. Without a dedicated path, young people are missing out on after-school clubs, social time or extra help with learning. A safe cycle path would give those young people real independence; it would help them to stay active and healthy, and it would cut down on car use.”
The Devon County Council’s plans highlight the need for more investment in cycling and walking infrastructure to support the safety and well-being of children and young people. The council’s efforts to support safer routes to schools are a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the lack of dedicated cycle paths in rural areas.
Call to Action
Richard Foord has called on the government to play a role in supporting rural local authorities in developing more safe routes for pupils to get to school. He has also urged Devon County Council to take a proactive approach in supporting the King’s School’s proposal for a multi-use path in the Otter Valley.
The future of school journeys in Devon depends on the ability of local authorities to provide safe and sustainable routes for pupils.
