19 January 2023More than £15.7million will be used to improve transport links to Exmouth and give the town’s northern entrance a much-needed facelift, for those travelling by road, rail and cycle.
News of the Government’s latest round of levelling up funding was announced this week, meaning works can now begin on ‘The Dinan Way extension’ and ‘The Exmouth Gateway transport hub’.
Planning permission for the much anticipated improvements to the Dinan Way link road was approved by East Devon District Council back in 2017.
Works will help to tackle congestion and remove traffic from the town centre, improving access to the northern area of Exmouth.
Once the extension is complete, heavy goods vehicles will also not need to go through the town centre, reducing congestion, noise and air pollution – particularly in the Strand.
To complement this, the Destination Exmouth project will give the entrance of the town, for those visiting by road, rail or cycle, a much-needed facelift – making the area more attractive, welcoming and user-friendly with improved signage to the town centre and seafront.
There will be neater, more practical and sustainable cycle routes, footpaths and public transport links, with an improvement to the road junction. This will allow people to get around the town centre and key tourist areas, like the seafront, using improved walking and cycling routes at the town’s key gateway.
Councillor Nick Hookway, EDDC’s portfolio holder tourism, sport, leisure and culture, said: “EDDC is delighted with the news that £15.7 million has been awarded to Devon County Council as part of latest round of the Government’s Levelling up agenda.
“The Dinan Way extension has been much anticipated, and we expect will bring many benefits to residents and businesses. This investment will go hand-in-hand with our new placemaking initiatives that EDDC has recently started to implement. These projects will have a significant impact in making Exmouth more attractive not only for residents but also for visitors and this will bring additional business to the town with subsequent economic benefits.”
EDDC’s Leader, Councillor Paul Arnott added: “EDDC welcomes this latest round of funding and is looking forward to the difference it will make to residents, fitting in neatly with the authority’s developing placemaking plans. Devon County Council, with our support, has secured more than £15million for two levelling up projects in Exmouth.
“Exmouth’s prospects have greatly improved in the last few years and if we all pull together and crack on, leaving politics out of it, then all the better for everyone.”
