Parish Council
Sticklepath Parish Council
C/O Bridge House
Sticklepath
Okehampton
EX20 2NR
12/8/22
Response to Transportation Strategy & Road Safety Manager
Planning Transportation & Environment | Devon County Council
Lucombe House,
County Hall,
Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD
Jamie.hulland@devon.gov.uk
Sticklepath Parish Council supports the development of this link. Okehampton and its hinterland are already showing benefits in relation to the opening of the line to Crediton/Exeter and with
connections beyond. There has been a change in commuting patterns, a growing interest in business developments and in access for visitors to the area.
The proposed link to Plymouth partially provides the same optimism and benefits towards the west and south of this area. Locals who work in Plymouth, including the major hospital, experience the difficulties in commuting through the outskirts of Plymouth, as well as through Tavistock. The latter could provide a sensible park and ride facility, as well as creating another route for business developments, tourism and other developments.
The ultimate aim for such this public transport link must be to revisit the opening of a line from
Okehampton, through Tavistock and onto Plymouth. Obviously, this creates the alternative route to the threatened Dawlish route. However, in the meantime there is significant scope for a coordinated transport policy which ties bus services through the North Dartmoor communities, but also linking the Okehampton station(s) with the route on to Tavistock.
Sticklepath Parish Council has accepted a Climate Emergency Declaration and are supporting
initiatives to reduce vehicle use and for the improvement of alternatives including walks, cycling
routes and public transport. We need all levels of government to be committed to improving this
access, and we give our support now to this initial link proposal.
Cllr Derek Moore, Vice Chair
derekmoore60@hotmail.com