At the Boniface Trail meeting on the 8th October, we learned that Newton St Cyres could be the key to our campaign. Parish Councillor Steve Parker maintains village footpaths and, as a farmer himself, is talking to other landowners to find a safe footpath / cycle route to both Crediton and Exeter.

With a primary school and 27 houses soon to be built in Station Road, Steve's proposed cycle / footpath would ensure happier journeys for families to and from school, compared to current cramped parking and children strapped into car seats at the top of the hill on the A377.

Laura Conyngham has walked some of Steve's route and says, "The route mostly runs parallel to the A377, by-passing its most dangerous stretches by wriggling round housing. Steve is amazing in obtaining the willingness of landowners."

Bob Lunnon photographed the A377 in sections, with Laura in the distance as scale, between Tescos and Cowley (terrifying for both of them) in order to categorise road widths along the route.

In referring to his survey and his years as a cycling commuter, Bob says, "There is a section of the A377 between Newton St Cyres and Half Moon which is 1km long and has a continuous double white line, reflecting the width, curvature and undulatory nature of the road there. Many cyclists consider this to be the most dangerous kilometre between Crediton and Exeter, a "show-stopper" when contemplating commuting between the two settlements. By-passing this section would massively improve both the actual safety and the perceived safety of cyclists on the A377."

Devon County Council's "unavailable routes" are further factors. DCC has to provide transport for school students, where cycling is unsafe. Bob says, "The proposed Newton St Cyres by-pass will by pass two sections of unavailable route. If the by-pass was constructed then school students could use a bicycle between, for example, Cowley and Crediton. Thus considerable potential saving that DCC could make."