MORE than 30 people from Yelverton and Tavistock gathered on the Drake's Trail at Grenofen last Saturday, to protest at the failure to complete the access path there. 

Organiser Bob Jones said he was pleased with the turnout and stressed the reason for the rally was to highlight the problems for walkers and cyclists by not finishing this section.  Drawing attention to the flags marking either end of the partially completed pathway, he said the distance was less than a hundred yards. 

While congratulating the council on completing Gem Viaduct and Grenofen Tunnel, he expressed dismay they had not been able to finish such a short stretch of the path.

Michael Webb of Grenofen asked if the council had considered purchasing the entire field as it would offer other benefits such as car parking and access for service vehicles. 

Grenofen resident Clive Pattison said in view of the likely legal costs, buying the whole field could work out cheaper than the compulsory purchase of just a narrow strip.

Following the rally, Bob Jones told the Times he liked the idea of buying the field.  He said it would allow not only early completion of the access path, but could provide parking which would ease the increasing problem of cars left beside the trail at Whitchurch. 

He urged Devon County Council to continue negotiations with the owners and consider buying not just the pathway strip but the entire field.

A spokesman for the county said: 'This path is a priority, it has always been an integral part of the scheme and will remain so.

'We fully appreciate residents frustrations in this matter, but we cannot discuss details of private negotiations so can only ask for patience.

'Residents can be assured that we are doing everything we can speed up progress.'