A CYCLE route, 30 years in the making, will see the Tarka Trail extended from Meeth to Hatherleigh — but only if it doesn’t go through an ancient woodland, writes Daniel Clarke, LDRS.

Devon County Council’s development management committee on Wednesday, June 5, narrowly voted to grant permission for an off-road route that would extend the cycle route from the Tarka Trail near Meeth to Made-Well at West Fishleigh Farm where there is a café open to the public. It would then continue south to Hatherleigh.

But the planning permission granted is conditional on independent confirmation that Parker’s Copse, where the route runs through, is identified as Priority Habitat and not ancient woodland.

If the independent expert confirms it is ancient woodland, then the application would come back to the committee for further consideration.

Cllr Patrick Kimber, who represents Hatherleigh on West Devon Borough Council, asked the committee to approve the application. He said: “For almost 30 years the council has been trying to connect the Tarka Trail to Hatherleigh and there will be social and economic benefit of connecting the trail to our market town.

“This will be good for everyone’s wellbeing and encourage people to enjoy the beautiful countryside and keep people active and will allow for people to leave their cars at home and cycle instead. It will reduce isolation for communities by linking Hatherleigh to the surrounding villages and it will increase tourism and get more people to visit our local shops and pubs

“This cycle path will be a wonderful asset for the community and I ask you to approve the application.”

Mike Deaton, principal planning officer, told the committee that initial proposals would have seen the route follow the old dismantled railway line between Meeth and Hatherleigh, but due to difficulties in securing the land, that route is no longer being taken forward.

Cllr Kimber said that the new route is more direct and avoids two crossings of the A386, adding: “Meeth still connected by the trial, the landlord of the pub supports this route, and I have a petition of 500 signatures in support of this.”

Within Parker’s Copse the construction works would involve identifying and removing 61 trees along the chosen route, and Cllr Yvonne Atkinson said that she had grave concerns about this. She said: “Why are we going through the woodlands rather than round them? Given the best route is clearly the former railway, I don’t understand why we haven’t compulsory purchased that route.”

But Mr Deaton said that the gradients are too steep to go around the woodland, the ownership is even more fragmented on the rail line and also requires crossings of the A386, and that the applicant says this is the only route that is deliverable.

Cllr Jackie Hook said that she was extremely supportive of completing the link, but that she shared the concerns about the route not being the optimum route for users and impact and the determination of whether this is an ancient woodland or not would fundamentally alter the decision the committee was making.

Cllr Ray Bloxham proposed that the committee defer the application under they had the answer and the clear information from the independent person as to whether it was ancient woodland or not, with the application coming back to them regardless of the answer.

A vote ended in a six each tie, and Cllr Jerry Brook, chairman of the committee, used his casting vote to reject the amended recommendation.

He then proposed that the application be approved, subject to confirmation that this is not ancient woodland, saying: “There is a serious challenge if this network has to consider an alternative route. The topography is that it has to take this line to make it accessible by all users.”

Cllr Jeremy Yabsley added: “We have been here before struggling to find a route for this path and concerned we have not managed to progress. Going through woodland would provide a unique experience and I would not consider that this is ancient woodland. I think we need to progress the trail.”

Cllr Richard Hosking added: “It has been 30 years trying to get this installed and unless there are really strong reasons not to proceed, it would be shame not to.”

Councillors then voted by eight votes to four to approve the construction of the cycle trail.