While we here at Sidmouth Nub News like to keep things local we've put together this story, with our Local Democracy Reporter, to keep the people of East Devon up to date with the transport improvements to be completed over the next decade.

Improved roundabouts, Exmouth bus station, the completion of Dinan Way, Avocet Line improvements and delivery of the Axminster relief road are part of a larger Devon County Council plan, here we set out the five different planned investments in transport infrastructure across East Devon by 2030.

The five planned infrastructure investments in East Devon are part of a list of 110 schemes in Devon County Council's Transportation Infrastructure Plan.

The Transport Infrastructure Plan: Delivering Growth to 2030 – sets out how future development is provided for and managed in a way that takes full account of its social, environmental and economic needs.

It follows recent research by the University of Exeter which confirmed that 27 per cent of all carbon emissions in Devon are generated by on-road transportation.

The plan, which aims to deliver growth in a low carbon environment, complements the Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 which sets out the transport strategy for the County, and the detailed infrastructure delivery plans relating to District Council Local Plan development.

Devon County Council have submitted an expression of interest for the Dinan Way extension in Exmouth, the E9 Strategic Cycle Route in Exeter, and a 'Markets Town' package.

The five schemes listed in the Transportation Infrastructure Plan for East Devon are:

-Clyst St Mary roundabout – £1m Alterations/ Improvements to roundabout (A3052/ A376 junction)

-Exmouth bus station – Improved walking / cycling links to town centre, revised entrance to bus station – completed

-Avocet Line improvements – Extension of platforms along the Avocet Line

-Axminster – The delivery of the £16.7m Axminster relief road

-Dinan Way – The £11.2m completion of Dinan Way to connect to the A376

The Transport Infrastructure Plan supports schemes with achieve a modal shift towards public transport, a modal shift towards active travel, increase in electrification or reduction in road capacity where this supports sustainable travel or improves air quality.

Devon County Council's cabinet, when they meet next Wednesday, are recommended to approve the updated Transportation Infrastructure Plan, as well as approving the capital programme for investment for the next two years.

While there is a large cross-over between the two for schemes planned for the next two financial years, the Transportation Infrastructure Plan only lists major schemes and does not include some smaller proposals, such as the Seaton to Colyford Multiuse Trail, work on the Sidbury to Sidford Walking & Cycle Route, and a series of pedestrian crossing to be installed in the county.

A total of £95.192m of investment will be made in the next two financial years – £47.4m in 2020/21 and £47.6m in 2022/23, of which, just over half is being spent on the North Devon Link Road improvement scheme.

Dave Black Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, in his report to the cabinet, says: "The capital programme in this report meets the Council's priorities by focussing on economic growth and physical health and supporting a prosperous healthy and safe community. The programme takes advantage of match funding from external sources wherever possible to make effective use of the limited direct funding available to the County Council.

"The package of schemes in this report totals £95.192m across financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22. This includes funding of £90.91m from external sources including grants and developer contributions."

On sustainable transport, Mr Black says: "The programme continues to provide capital funding to develop sustainable transport infrastructure improvements to be ready for external funding opportunities. This includes obtaining planning permission for an East-West Cycle Corridor bridge crossing of the A361 at Barnstaple and preparing new proposals for an A38 cycle bridge crossing between Sherford and LangagePlympton.

"Promoting walking and cycling remains a core objective of the Local Transport Plan to help to deliver more sustainable development in the Market Town areas and for supporting the public health agenda, climate emergency and local economy.

"The programme incorporates funding for the development and delivery of urban cycle networks and facilities outside of Exeter.

"Over the next two years it is intended to complete construction of the Seaton to Colyford Multiuse Trail and the Pegasus Way BridlewayMultiuse Trail between Okehampton and Cookworthy Forest.

"Work will progress to deliver missing links on the Tarka Trail in North Devon between Knowle & Willingcott and in West Devon between Meeth and Hatherleigh.

"Work will also continue on the Drakes Trail between Yelverton & Roborough and on the Ruby Way between Hatherleigh and Holsworthy.

"Encouraging walking in urban areas is supported with new and improved crossing facilities identified for Barnstaple, Axminster, Tiverton, Crediton, Newton Abbot and Newton St Cyres and bus public transport continues to be supported with funding for passenger information and payment systems to improve the passenger experience and encourage increased travel by bus."

On addressing congestion on the roads, Mr Black said that a new tranche of competitive funding for local authorities to bid for schemes to help address congestion pinch points and to reduce congestion on local roads was announced in 2019.

He added: "The Dinan Way Extension is a key route connecting Dinan Way to the A376. This road extension will improve vehicular and bus access and connectivity to the A376 for residential and commercial areas. It will enable a new cycle and pedestrian connection to the Exe Estuary Trail. It will reduce congestion in the town centre removing through HGV movements and reducing traffic on existing routes residential roads.

"The E9 Strategic Cycle Route in Exeter connecting the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital to strategic housing allocations east of Exeter. Linking to rail stations at Digby, Sowton and Marsh Barton (proposed) and will link to Park and Rides at Digby and Sowton to the eastern of the city.

"The Market Towns package comprises of highway improvements in Okehampton Town Centre, Air Quality improvements at Western Road, Ivybridge, junction improvements at Stony Lane, Axminster, A379 Starcross and Mamhead alternative route improvements near Dawlish and Cedars roundabout junction improvements at Barnstaple."

Under the Housing Infrastructure Fund, Devon County Council was successful with its Forward Fund bid for £55 million of grant funding to deliver key infrastructure that will support major development to the South West of Exeter.

Work has been progressing in 2019/20 to develop this project and it is anticipated that contracts for grant funding will be completed early in 2020/21, Mr Black said, although due to the urgent need to progress the project two new traffic signal junctions on A379 either side of the Devon Motel are being forward funded and will begin construction in 2020.

Growth Deal Funding will help deliver the A382-A383 Houghton Barton Link Road at Newton Abbot, the Marsh Barton Railway Station, and the A39 Heywood Road junction improvement at Bideford, the Large Local Majors Fund is providing the majority of funding for the North Devon Link Road.

Other schemes will be funded by the National Productivity Investment Fund, which include to deliver highway infrastructure improvements at Sherford, capacity upgrades for the A30 Moor Lane Roundabout, major elements of the E4 strategic Exeter cycle route, a new Park and Change site at Exeter Science Park and a major expansion of Exeter's electric bicycle network. Construction works to deliver these projects are continuing into 2020/21.

The cabinet, when they meet on Wednesday, are recommended to approve the budgets for the schemes, the revised capital program, and the updated Transportation Infrastructure Plan.