“Engaging with decision makers and raising awareness of opportunities for encouraging cycling in the Sid Valley.”
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It was at the Vision Group for Sidmouth’s AGM that the Sidmouth Cycling Campaign gave their 2025 Annual Report – which is published here in full:
SIDMOUTH CYCLING CAMPAIGN – ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Introduction
The Sidmouth Cycling Campaign was formed 3 years ago, building on the work of the Sidmouth Cycling Action Group, which had been a Vision Group project since 2008.
During the past year we have continued to engage with decision makers, raising awareness of opportunities for encouraging cycling in the Sid Valley, as summarised below.
Devon Countywide LCWIP (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan)
We responded to the consultation on this plan and it has now been published by Devon County Council. It identifies the 10 most important rural routes across the county for improvement.
The plan includes the path from Sidbury to Sidford as a Short Term priority and the Otter Trail as a Medium Term priority.
Sidbury to Sidford Path
We’ve been actively engaged with Devon County Council (DCC) about their plans to create an offroad path from Sidbury to Sidford.
DCC have planning approval to construct a path on the west side of the main road from Sidford to Hillside in Sidbury (Phase 1).
A planning application was made in November 2024 for housing that includes a potential continuation of the path to the village. This application has not yet been determined and we understand that both Phase 1 and 2 are dependent on funding from this housing.
We’re also engaged with parents of school children from Sidbury who attend Sidmouth College and are keen to use a safe off-road cycle route. We helped them organise a group cycle ride to school in October during “Cycle to School Week”, which made the front page of the Sidmouth Herald.
Otter Trail
The Otter Trail is a proposed off-road cycle route following the route of the disused railway line from the Bowd through Ottery St Mary to Feniton.
The first 300m of this potential cycle route is within the Sidmouth Town Council boundary and follows an existing permissive bridleway, but the surface is inadequate for general use.
We are in discussion with the landowner, Clinton Devon Estates, who are putting together a bid to Defra under their Heaths to Sea Project (heathstosea.com). We are hopeful this will include a proposal to improve the bridleway through Harpford Woods to provide a safer alternative to the main road for cyclists.
Cllr Denise Bickley (DCC) attended our recent campaign meeting and is supportive of the scheme. She has since walked the route through Harpford Woods and discussed it with officers.
The Byes
We responded to the consultation by EDDC on the Dogs on Leads byelaws, requesting that dogs be kept on leads on the narrow, shared paths in the “upper” Byes
We have recently enquired about the possibility of widening the existing narrow shared path at the back of Sidmouth College.
Ecohub
We supported the EcoHub in April when the theme was Active Travel. This was a useful publicity exercise.
Other Activities
We have a Facebook group with regular posts.
Looking forward
We plan to continue our current activities, pushing for improvements to encourage cycling in the Sid Valley.
Roy Russell
Secretary, Sidmouth Cycling Campaign
21 November 2025
Finally, the Annual Report has been put into the format used by the Sidmouth Town Council’s Environment Cttee – and has been sent to them for consideration at their next meeting. See: Environment Committee (8 Dec 2025) – Sidmouth Town Council
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