Awards presented to Exe Estuary Trail team

Devon County Council has been presented with the trophy and plaque for winning the Royal Town and Planning Institute (RTPI) South West Award for Planning Excellence 2015.

The Exe Estuary Trail was the overall winner of the RTPI SW Awards for Planning Excellence 2015. The Chairman of the Council, Councillor Christine Channon, Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling Stuart Hughes and members of the team behind the project received the awards at a special presentation at the Custom House, in Exeter’s historic Quay.

The RTPI Awards highlight exceptional examples of planning and celebrate the contribution that planners and planning make to society.

The £17 million cycle and walking route extends over 16 miles running alongside the Exe Estuary, and linking Exeter Quay to the coastal towns of Exmouth and Dawlish.

The judges were impressed with the Exe Estuary case study in “promoting walking and cycling within a sensitive environment”. They stated that over the 10 years it has taken to complete the scheme, collaborative working has been critical to ensure the scheme adapts to local needs and addressing construction challenges.

The judging panel also commended County Council officers, councillors and the partnership of agencies and organisations for their long term commitment to the project. They were also "greatly impressed" with the high level of attention to detail to build infrastructure in environmentally sensitive areas.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “The Exe Estuary Trail has become one of our county’s flagship cycle routes which is growing in popularity all of the time. This award from the RTPI is a marvellous achievement, but it is deserved recognition of the incredible amount of work that has gone into this scheme over the past 10 years. It has created an extremely beneficial link which is encouraging more people to cycle to work, school or in their leisure time.”

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “This award demonstrates the high standard of work that has gone into making the Exe Estuary Trail such an important asset for Devon. It has brought great economic benefits, attracting visitors and helping numerous businesses set up.”

Automatic cycle counters which record cycle trips on the trail have shown that that there has been a 42% increase in usage of the network between 2011 and 2014, with trips rising from 181,581 to 257,189.