MORE than 30 residents expressed concern over a proposed cycle track passing through Grenofen at a meeting last Thursday. The route seeks to link the previously consented Route 27 ? Ilfracombe to Plymouth ? to the hamlet of Grenofen. The main path runs along the disused railway line until a point where it splits. It passes into the cutting leading to Grenofen Tunnel which will be lit. From there the path will emerge into Dartmoor National Park. It is proposed a secondary path will lead up and across fields to Grenofen where it runs along the back of existing cottages and emerges in the car park of the Halfway House pub. However, while residents are not objecting to the path itself they are concerned about matters of highways safety. Peter Jones, landlord of the Halfway House, said it was agreed at the meeting that those attending would make individual representation to Devon County Council planning. The group would also be represented collectively at the next Devon County Council development control committee which met yesterday (Wednesday). It was also agreed to make representation to the Dartmoor National Park. ?There was a great deal of concern raised by everybody about the proposed alterations to the A386,? said Mr Jones. Also attending were members of Plaisterdown Grouped Parish Council which, while having no objection to the proposals in principle, remained concerned about the Grenofen exit onto the A386. The council had previously stated it considered the current proposals not adequate to combat safety matters raised. It also felt it was important to provide a 40mph speed limit at this point to enable a safe exit on to the main road. ?The meeting wasn?t against the cycle track,? said Mr Jones. ?As far as the majority of villagers were corncerned they are not concerned about that.? He said that while Sustrans maintained there was no problem with the proposal, residents felt there was a problem with access. ?There is disquiet about the access from the entrance of the tunnel and the crossing of the A386 and also the way it is going to disrupt the wildlife,? he said. Mr Jones said those attending the meeting were disappointed that there was no representative from the county council because cycle project officer Graham Cornish was on holiday. The matter was being discussed by Devon County Council?s development control committee yesterday after the Times had gone to press.
