https://www.southhams.com/ https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=1939 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=1939 This is so obviously a desirable amenity both for local people and visitors, that it beggars belief that there is significant opposition. Even if you’re a land owner/farmer along the route it presents opportunities to open wayside cafes etc. ]]> Sun, 16 Feb 2025 09:02:08 +0000 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=1688 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=1688 I was interested to discover this trail, as I'm thinking of walking across Devon, but the reference to hoards of people using it is surely nonsense. I'd also presume that people in this area use cars, etc. which obviously disturb wildlife more than a few walkers and the occasional cyclist. Sorry to rant. ]]> Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:12:55 +0000 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=850 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=850 Whilst I can see on the surface why people would think this might be a nice idea. If you read between the lines this would actually be incredibly detrimental to this beautiful valley. There are currently 6 endangered species that reside in that valley and increasing the footfall drastically would have a devastating effect. Not to mention the destruction of habitat in creating the trail in the first place- putting down a hard surface, widening tracks, building bridges etc. There is a lot of misleading information in the feasibility study of where the route goes, who is in support of it etc and very little communication has taken place with the residents along the trail. Knowing there are large stretches of the route where land owners do not want it, I can’t see how safe and practical alternative routes can be used as would involve steep hills, back lanes/roads which would be dangerous and disruptive. I was surprised to see the Primrose trail have claimed that the Loddiswell Parish Council haven’t contacted them, when only the other day I saw a copy of the reply from the Primrose trail to the Loddiswell Parish council on the Loddiswell Parish Council’s Facebook page. So they clearly have been in contact and the Primrose trail has even acknowledged it by replying!! As far as the 50,000 calculations go. It is inaccurate to calculate it per day by that method as the majority of visitors will be during peak tourist season and there will be days when the weather would not be appropriate for people to use it so when it is in use the numbers per day would be a lot higher. And the way it was worded in the feasibility study was to ‘exceed’ that number in the first year which would lead me to believe they anticipate more than that. Plus in order to make this project feasible for funding ( over 2 million) they would need to be bringing in large volumes of people otherwise how can they afford to do it? Parking is already an issue along the route and we are already bursting at the seams in this area for tourism so how would we be able to accommodate this?! I would love to read a report from their independent wildlife ecologists to see how they plan to increase the biodiversity. Baring in mind the valley already has landowners working with members of the Devon Wildlife Trust and Woodland Trust, they are already working to provide the right habitats for the species that reside there. I also question how easy it would be to accommodate cyclists, walkers and horse riders all along the same path. Horses are easily spooked and would struggle having cyclists zipping past and having tried to walk along a multi use (mainly cycle) path it can be pretty hazardous. Whilst I’m sure the people behind this are well meaning. This has not been dealt with in a sensitive manner and the information given doesn’t always seem to be accurate which unfortunately leads a lot of the general public into not knowing what they are really signing up for. I implore anyone to consider all the facts before making a decision whether they support this or not. ]]> Sun, 02 May 2021 19:01:15 +0000 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=849 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=849 As the title suggests this is a bad idea. It doesn't help members of the Primrose committee encouraging farmers to believe their neighbours thought it was a wonderful idea, neither was it a good idea to encourage people to trespass in order to view sorely tunnel. But the main issue is the feasibility report, an example if ever there was one of unfounded optimism coupled with a lack of detail and a complete failure to grasp local opinion or the impact of more people in an area already suffering with overtourism. The Report itself allows 6 lines for engineering work, considering there are three bridges and one tunnel to negotiate that seems somewhat lacking, the tunnel has a small river running out of it, there is no electric, the tunnel walls and roof will no doubt need considerable work and a surface appropriate for all will have to be laid and that's all after you have permission from the working farms it runs through, which they won't get and the idea this can somehow accommodate cyclists, horses, walkers and dogs on the same path is cloud cuckoo land. I strongly suspect the whole project is driven by those with little knowledge of the area or what it was like historically. The last thing this area needs at this point is more tourism, the roads are already crumbling at an alarming rate, air pollution is high and coupled with the amount of congestion, waste and litter is rapidly making the area unpleasant to live in especially during the summer months but increasingly through the winter months, it is no longer sustainable. The sooner this idea is shelved the better. ]]> Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:38:00 +0000 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=848 https://www.southhams.com/blog/general-news/discussions/review?id=848 If this trail were to be built it would totally ruin one of the very few unspoiled areas on South Devon. To create a 'multi use trail' in the Avon Valley would be an enormous mistake on every level, urbanising the countryside with a wide hard track ( even though the PT group call it is 'cinder track' make NO mistake, it is a hard track) would be extremely detrimental. The UK has over 16,000 miles of cycle tracks, there is only one Avon Valley, once it is lost, it is lost forever. 50,000 MORE people using this valley would be a a great mistake. The PT group say in their own feasibility study that they would want to attract over 50,000 extra visitors. The actual words in the feasibility study are, 'the expected visitor numbers will exceed 50,000.' That is EXTRA people, NOT local people who already use the paths and bridleways that are accessible. Where will they park? In the lanes? Where will they leave their rubbish and dog poo bags? ]]> Wed, 28 Apr 2021 18:13:43 +0000