Sustainable Travel and Tourism
Dawlish Transition members are delighted with the news that the Coastal Communities Bid ‘Destination Dawlish’ has been successful. With the help of a grant from Devon County Council Regeneration fund, in 2012, Dawlish Transition hosted a successful Sustainable Transport and Tourism Forum at Red Rock. Its aim was to bring together key players to enable Dawlish to take advantage of the benefits of the Exe Estuary Trail by ensuring that the last section of the route can come into the centre of town following the opening of the Powderham Bridge. Since then the group have worked tirelessly to promote and monitor progress being made through regular meetings with Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and Sustrans to ensure that the completion of the cycle trail remained at the forefront of their thinking.
Dawlish Transition member, Andrew Turpin, a keen cyclist said, ‘This will make such a difference to Dawlish. By bringing a safe route into the Town Centre, Dawlish will welcome many more cycling visitors. Our Town will be more prosperous and we will all be more able to enjoy the health benefits that cycling and walking bring. It will also encourage cycling to work and help to lessen road congestion on the A379, which is becoming more and more of a problem. ’ Dawlish Transition are already planning a follow up forum to help to ensure that the Town’s businesses are in a good position to meet the needs of their cycling visitors and to campaign for improvements to the low lying sections of the Exe Estuary Trail where flooding often occurs.
See Dawlish businesses to benefit as cycle trail extends into town
Thanks to the support of Dawlish Town Council who have granted funding from their Regeneration Fund, Dawlish Transition hosted a Sustainable Travel and Tourism Forum on Saturday 10th November 2012 at the Red Rock Centre, Sandy Lane, Dawlish. The aim of the forum was to bring together key players to enable Dawlish to take advantage of the benefits of the Exe Estuary Trail by ensuring that the last section of the route comes into the centre of town.
The Exe Estuary Trail will finish in Dawlish and we would like to encourage similar economic benefits as have been enjoyed by Padstow and other places on national and recreational trails throughout the country
Devon County Council have produced a detailed design of the cycle route into Dawlish Town Centre. Sustrans have submitted "Destination Dawlish" to the Coastal Communities Fund and it has reached the second phase with the results announced in Febuary 2015.
The key points of the Destination Dawlish project are: to attract new groups and out-of-season visitors, making the most of nearby investments, better utilising existing resources and creating a travel option to increase tourism capacity. By directing regeneration towards the coastline in its entirety, there is a greater chance of a successful economic future along both the Exe Estuary and Amberline Coast. Devon County Council (DCC) and partners will turn Dawlish into a destination for walkers and cyclists through the following activities: Route development: linking Dawlish town centre to key walking and cycling routes including improved signage and cycle parking Cycle hire: creating cycle hire facilities at Dawlish Warren within easy access to the two local train stations and ferry crossing points Heritage trails: building on the current visitor walking and cycling offer through heritage trails along the route. Linking the South Devon Coastal path and drawing visitors to key points across the town Heritage interpretation facilities: using space in key public facilities across the town, portable information boards and materials from the local museum will be showcased. Providing a storyboard of the town including the railway history and 2014 storm, Brunel trail and Exe Estuary story. These will be accessible throughout the year including the six months the museum is closed Marketing, promotion and consultation: provided through a range of activities including promotion of the extended route as part of the wider Exe Estuary Trail 12 month launch; community consultation and design across key locations in the town to ensure the programme continues to meet businesses needs; working with walking groups and businesses to promote events and active travel for residents and visitors
Forum Presentations
Opening keynote speech by John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans Fostering the reality of sustainable transport in Dawlish
Peter Grainger, Devon Sustrans Manager The economic benefits that cycle routes have brought to the South West
Zsolt Schuller, Sustainable Travel Strategic Officer, Devon County Council What are the viable options for the continuation of the Exe Estuary Trail into Central Dawlish.
Jonny Miller, Green Infrastructure Coordinator, Teignbridge District Council How TDC created, prioritised and propose to deliver a network of cycling routes in the Heart of Teignbridge area, and how that might relate to Dawlish.
Rob Bennington, Injury Prevention Manager, NHS Bristol No pain, no gain? Preventing cycling injuries in a world of expanding waist-lines.
Bob Bowen, Local Businessman and member of Dawlish Chamber of Trade My Vision for Cycling in Dawlish
Dave Hutton, Devon By Bike The economic benefits of a cycle link into Dawlish, based on experience of providing services 9 routes and accommodation) to cyclists in Devon
Stephanie Cherrett, Visit South Devon Working together to attract tourists developing events and working in partnership.