FRUSTRATED residents packed a public meeting at Grenofen last week and learned that five months after the multi-million pound Drake's Trail cycle path was opened, there was still no news about when they would be able to access it.

The path, which passes through fields towards Grenofen and directly under the hamlet through the Grenofen tunnel, is just yards from their homes.

Yet residents wishing to walk or cycle on the path have to cross the busy main road and go down the steep lane to Grenofen bridge before going up an equally steep track to gain access to the trail.

Alternatively, they have to walk, cycle or drive to Anderton in Whitchurch to access the track, either on the A386 or the Whitchurch to Horrabridge road, neither of which has pavements.

Grenofen resident and landlord of the Halfway House Clive Pattison, who called the public meeting, said he was 'passionate' about the project.

He said: 'Drake's Trail could be West Devon's Camel Trail — I think it provides an amazing and fantastic opportunity.

'I know I have a vested interest as I have a business here, but that is secondary really, I want the people that live here, me included, to be able to access the path safely.

'What they have managed to do so far is brilliant, Gem Bridge is fantastic, the views are superb, they've done the tunnel — I can't believe they didn't get this strip of land at the same time as the rest of the cycle path.'

Grenofen resident Bob Hughes said the piece of land needed to create the access between the cycle path and the pub was just 90 yards long and would amount to less than a tenth of an acre in total.

He said the county council had assured him that the money for the land was available and had been 'ring-fenced' for the project.

'We just need people to get together and horse-trade for a while and it's done.

'It's peanuts in comparison with the £2.5-million for the bridge.

'I think we need to put pressure on the council to get them negotiating with the landowner.'

Mr Hughes said the cycle path project officer for Devon County Council, Graham Cornish, had been invited to the meeting, as had the local county councillor, Philip Sanders.

Mr Hughes said: 'I think we have been let down by the council and the fact they are not here tonight I think tells you something.

'I am very disappointed that Cllr Sanders hasn't come — Graham Cornish declined — that's the level of interest from the county that we are facing.'

Eric Pinch, a Sustrans volunteer ranger, said the current situation was 'totally unaceptable'.

'We are talking about a hundred-metre strip of land that should have been purchased before. It beggars belief that it hasn't been done already.'

Georgina Patterson, of Grenofen, said: 'To access the path safely, our family have to drive out of Grenofen. The path is excellent, but it's a shame that, despite living right by it, we are effectively isolated from it.

'The proposal to make the temporary access at Ash Mill permanent was turned down because the road was deemed unsafe, but until the link is finished, we have to use the same road, over a longer distance.'

A spokesman for Devon County Council said: 'We fully appreciate residents' frustrations in this matter and realise this is a priority for them and are doing everything in our power to move things forward.'

Cllr Philip Sanders said: 'I can understand and sympathise with the concerns of those anxious to see the Grenofen Link open, however, it seems they are not aware of the effort that Devon County Council has been making behind the scenes to bring this link into commission.

'Sadly, there have been difficulties in gaining landowner consent and the county has naturally been reluctant to pursue a compulsory purchase order while there was any chance of reaching a negotiated settlement.

'Obtaining a CPO is an expensive and time-consuming procedure and not surprinsingly, very unpopular with the owner of the property concerned.

'Whilst it is encouraging that local residents are so supportive of the link, the county has been and remains committed to seeing it completed at the earliest opportunity and although residents' meetings and petitions will prove very useful for a CPO, they will not speed matters up, as they have to follow the legal process.'