AMAZING isn't it? On Friday August 27,a headline in the Western Morning News states that Devon is to lose over one million pounds in grants due to failure to repair roads, yet the day before the headline in the Tavistock Times, we find Graham Cornish from Devon County Council proudly announcing a £2.1-million scheme to build a cycle bride over the Walkham, so it appears a handful of cyclists take priority over thousands of road users!
There has also been an outbreak of 'cycleway' signs in and around Tavistock, no doubt costing several thousand pounds, culminating in a huge 'fingerboard' signpost in the middle of Peter Tavy village which to a visitor looks like an ordinary road sign — so much so that already several visitors have asked the way to Mary Tavy and Okehampton!
It is claimed that Drake's Trail has the potential to generate millions in tourist revenue — it needs to, just to break even, as it has cost millions to build! I would suggest that the numbers of people who come just for the cycling are a very small beer compared to the tens of thousands of non-cyclists who come to Devon for its wonderful countryside and beaches as well as its other attractions.
Frankly, I would rather see the money spent on putting the roads in decent condition for those tourists, as no doubt would every other road user in Devon.
Paul Mercer
Ivy Cottage
Peter Tavy
I APPRECIATE the importance that the construction of Gem Bridge is to the National Cycle Network, and I hope good use will be made of it.
It's just that I find it ironic that £2.1 million can be found to build this project, whereas on the A386 at Bedford Bridge (Magpie), one of the busiest roads in the county, we motorists continue to suffer the consequences of the narrow bridge and corners although an improvement scheme was drawn up for a new bridge back in 1929 !
John Richards
Tavistock