From the
Herald Express:
New cycle routes linking Torquay harbour side, the town centre, railway station and Torbay Hospital have been approved.
Torbay Council's transport working party agreed in principle to the new on and off-highway routes. They are:
- An off-highway link between Shiphay Lane and Crownhill Rise/Avenue Road
- A signed on-road route from Avenue Road to Upton Park.
- A shared footway and cycleway along Lymington Road at Upton Park to Castle Circus.
- A cycle link through Union Street, Lower Union Street, Fleet Street and Palk Street to Torquay harbour side which then takes cyclists across the footbridge towards the ferry service.
- And a cycle link using Palk Street, Fleet Street, Abbey Road, Tor Hill Road and East Street for cyclists heading from the ferry towards the town centre.
A seafront link would also connect Torbay Hospital, Torquay railway station and Paignton. This route will involve a shared footway and cycleway along Torquay Promenade to Torre Abbey Sands and links adjacent to Torre Abbey Sands and Torre Abbey Meadows.
Patrick Carney, from the council's highways department, told the working party: "We have had Sustrans down to walk and cycle the routes and give advice."
More detailed designs on particular elements of the routes will now be carried out.
Ken Robertson, 76, from Paignton, who has devoted more than 60 years of his life to cycling in the South West and was the overall winner of this year's Torbay Sports Awards, said he welcomed the new routes and was sure to use them.
The former chairman of Mid Devon Cycling Club said: "This is good news. Twenty years ago there weren't any cycle routes and they are increasing at an accelerating rate. Things are going the right way."
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