AN important cycleway and footbath has had its future safeguarded thanks to a £100,000 improvement scheme.

A 52-metre retaining wall has just been completed on the Granite Way path between Okehampton and the Meldon Viaduct.

The path, built mainly along the course of the former Southern Region railway line, is part of the National Cycle Network, and the work was funded by Devon County Council.

The Granite Way is an important tourist attraction for Okehampton, helping to attract cyclists and walkers to the area on holiday. It is ideal for families and those new to regular cycling, avoiding traffic along the vast majority of its length — it goes off-road for six miles between Okehampton and the Lake Viaduct.

The path at Meldon Station was closed throughout the winter so construction work could be carried out. Members of the public were diverted to footpaths and roads.

Okehampton's county councillor Christine Marsh said: 'The Granite Way is one of the most beautiful stretches of the National Cycle Network.

'This part of the route looks across to the Castle and passes through the lovely Bluebell Woods, which is part of Meldon Woods.

'Local people and visitors all use this path to visit Meldon Viaduct and enjoy the breathtaking views across to Dartmoor and to Meldon Dam. I am pleased that it is now open again.'

The original retaining structure was a gabion wall, which was on top of an earlier dry stone wall and sandwiched between Meldon Woods and Meldon Railway Station.

The structure was believed to be around 12 years old, built as part of the original cyclepath and station construction works.

The material used to build the 'crib wall' is made primarily from recycled high density polyethylene plastic. This relatively new application of the material was chosen as the local ground was discovered to be highly acidic. The plastic is very resistant to the acidic effects of the soil.

In addition, a ten-metre length of the dry-stone wall beneath had to be taken down. This section of wall was rebuilt in front of and below the plastic crib wall in order to maintain the stone wall appearance.'

Cabinet member for Highways and Transportation Stuart Hughes said: 'Temporary repairs were made to the gabion wall in 2010 but it was felt that a permanent design solution was always needed.'