Devon and Somerset county councils submit ^8m funding bids

[whole diary]

[FlyingDutchman]

Quote the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) web Site

Improvements to the transport network in Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bridgwater could be made if two government bids totalling ^8m are successful.

Devon and Somerset county councils have submitted a ^3.6m bid to improve train services between Minehead to Taunton and Exeter to Okehampton.

A second bid of ^4.3m has been made to build cycle routes in Bridgwater by Somerset County Council.

It is hoped the bids will boost tourism and help reduce traffic congestion.

The total cost of the Two Moors Sustainable Visitor Travel project will cost about ^7.9m, and the Moving Bridgwater Project is estimated at ^7.9m.
'Travel hubs'

The remaining balances will come from Somerset County Council, developer contributions, council partners and community groups.

Cabinet member at Somerset County Council, David Hall, said: "On Exmoor and Dartmoor, we and our partners want visitors to be able to explore the wonderful countryside and local attractions.

"We will do this through a range of initiatives to improve the travel infrastructure, including creating seven travel hubs, six new cycle ways and providing bike trailers for community transport vehicles to use."

The fund for Bridgwater will be used to build six miles of cycle routes, including one running from North Petherton to Bridgwater. The rest of the money will be put aside as a community fund.

[JayMac]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-17159613

Okay I don't yet know the full scope of the schemes that the County Councils have submitted bids for funds for, but ^3.6M for rail across a large area and ^4.3M for cycle routes in one town?

On the face of it, a little skewed. 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

In the case of the okehampton route, the line is in place stations need no work so that's a huge cost taken away, minehead would be more complicated (not sure how the wsr feels about modern traction on the line!)