THE Tavistock section of the Drake's Trail cycle path came under the spotlight during a meeting in the town last week.

Members of Tavistock Town Council's properties committee were given a brief presentation by Graham Cornish, Devon County Council's project officer for the National Cycle Network.

Mr Cornish told members that the route to the north and south of the town was now established — but that he needed to investigate the best way for the route to go through Tavistock.

He felt the Meadows provided the best solution: 'National policy says when you go into a town, you go to the centre because that's generally where people want to go.

'We have the high level route, with the viaduct, but the drawback is that doesn't go to the centre.

'We have the underpass, which we invested three quarters of a million pounds in, so we already have cycling into the Meadows.'

Mr Cornish felt Abbey Walk provided the best solution, as it linked directly to the underpass.

He said the purpose of his visit to the council was to get feedback from members on the possibilities which could be explored.

The aim of cycle routes into towns was to encourage people to use bikes for short journeys as a matter of course, rather than immediately jumping in their cars as the natural option, said Mr Cornish.

But councillors did not like the suggestion of using Abbey Walk.

Town mayor Robin Pike said it was 'out of the question' and that the mix of cyclists, pedestrians and wheelchair users, on an unfenced path adjacent to the fast flowing River Tavy, was dangerous.

Cllr Pike suggested investigating the possibility of using the old Great Western Railway track-bed.

Cllr Mandy Govier said using Abbey Walk was 'asking for trouble'.

'St John's Walk would be a much better idea,' she said, adding that if Mr Cornish wanted ideas and suggestions, an ideal platform would be the annual town meeting, due to be held in March.

Members agreed the matter was too important to make a hurried decision. They invited Mr Cornish to the town meeting, to be held in the town hall on Tuesday March 10.