Hatherleigh’s West Devon Borough Councillor Patrick Kimber recently met up with local MP Mel Stride to discuss local cycling and walking routes. The pair met at Made-Well on the A386 just north of the town. They spoke about the Tarka Trail and Cllr Kimber’s mission to secure an off-road cycle and pedestrian route between Hatherleigh and Meeth to link up with the Meeth to Braunton section of the trail. At 30 miles long this is already the longest stretch of traffic free cycling in the UK and Cllr Kimber is exploring how to extend this further.
Cllr Kimber explained:
“It was great to catch up with Mel and brief him on the work I’m doing to try and improve local walking and cycling links. The best way we can take cars off the road and reduce our carbon emissions is to make greener travel easy and safe. We also need to ensure our cycle paths are suitable for our disabled and older residents and Made-Well was an appropriate place to meet because they are planning to install a Changing Places toilet so more people have the confidence to get out, knowing they have appropriate facilities when they need them.”
Mr Stride added:
“It was very good to hear about Patrick’s exciting plans and he is right – the more we can encourage people to cycle and walk, the better it is for the environment and for our own physical and mental health. It was also great to visit Made-Well again – the staff here do an extraordinary job supporting people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and mental health diagnoses.”
For more information about the Tarka Trail, Made-Well and Changing Places toilets visit www.tarkatrail.org.uk, www.made-well.co.uk and www.changing-places.org.
