Proposal to link Tarka Trail to Taddiport
along the Rolle road
The Tarka Trail runs to the west of Great Torrington Commons and is a very popular route for cycling. Between Braunton and Meeth the trail provides over 30 miles of traffic free cycling route, which is one of the longest stretches in the UK. The Tarka trail caters for over 150,000 cycle trips annually, 73% of which are made for leisure purposes and it also forms a key part of a wider 99 mile long Coast to Coast National Cycle Network route linking Plymouth to Ilfracombe.
Approximately 60% of the trail users come from outside of Northern Devon, bringing in important tourism benefits which have been estimated to be worth around £20 million annually to Devon’s economy. Cycle numbers continue to grow along this trail and with further investment planned to complete off road sections of the trail between Braunton and Ilfracombe in the north and from Meeth to Hatherliegh in the south, this growth is anticipated to continue.
The economic plan for the Tarka Trail Coastal Community Team recognises the need to provide new opportunities to access the Trail from across the area. Within the Torrington Commons there is a network of established walking links connecting the Tarka Trail to the town. But there has also been a desire for many years to improve access into the town for cyclists and for residents of the town to access the trail.
A consultation is being undertaken to seek feedback on the possibility of permitting limited cycle access through the Torrington Commons in order to facilitate a better cycle link to the Tarka Trail. Cycle access to the Commons is not currently permitted and the Great Torrington Commons Conservators are seeking feedback from local residents.
The consultation plan outlines the proposal to create a single cycle link route from the Tarka Trail at the Puffing Billy to Taddiport along the route of the Rolle Road. This proposed route would also link to new development being planned on the site of the former Creamery.
Devon County Council has agreed to fund work to upgrade this route if it is supported by the local community.
Residents of Torrington are invited to support or object to this proposal by 30th November 2020.
You can respond by completing the form below on this web site.
Alternatively, you can write to the Clerk at the address shown at the bottom of this page, an example of what to write has been provided below.
Example response in writing:
“As a Torrington resident I support / oppose* the proposal to create a single cycle link route from the Tarka Trail at the Puffing Billy to Taddiport along the route of the Rolle Road, as shown in the plan on the Torrington Commons website.”
* Please delete as appropriate and provide your full name and address.
Click here to see a larger view of the map showing the proposed route.
Update December 1st 2020
The consultation period is now closed.
We are collating the results and intend to publish them on our website as soon as we can. We will also publish them in the Crier.
We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the survey.
