With summer just around the corner and the Otter Trail Group launching a questionnaire in March to gauge local residents’ views on cycling in East Devon, it’s almost impossible to forget the important role Ottery St Mary has played in the world of modern cycling, nor its support to the efforts of the Group to try to create a cycle path from Feniton to Sidmouth.

Phyllis Baxter was a great supporter of local cycling events and the Otter Trial Group as she believed it would be good for a number of different groups in the area and could be beneficial to the tourist industry. As a walker and champion of the “Walkers are Welcome” community project, she was keen to promote the trail as it could help drive visitors to our area.

Councillor Faithfull clarified on Facebook: “We as a group have tried to be realistic and understand that the full route from Feniton to Sidmouth would be a very big project and are looking at working on smaller sections of the route. We need to understand which sections are most in demand and we also are looking at alternative routes.”

The local authority’s commitment to encouraging more walking and cycling in the town began in 2011 with the opening of the Coleridge Bridge by then Mayor Glyn Dobson, improving safety for the King’s School pupils, taking them off the narrow Barrack Road pavement to and from the town centre.

The arrival of the Tour of Britain in Ottery in 2016 and in 2018 led to many cycling events in town including being part of the 2019 Three Hills Championship, where riders had to conquer three different stages, starting with Chineway Hill in Ottery, followed by the climbs at Haytor and Widecombe all in one day.

In the words of the late John Campion whose enthusiasm and organizational skills will always be remembered: ”The Tour of Britain coming to Ottery twice, the Hill Climb on Chineway Hill which has been running since 2017 and the Bike Fest in the Land of Canaan with a demonstration by the Exeter Cycle Speedway team was such a success that we were asked to put on a cycling event at the Primary School and that has continued every year since, except during the Covid pandemic, with around 80 to 90 pupils taking part.”

It became clear then and even now that the enthusiasm for cycling in the area demanded ways to make it a sport that could be safely enjoyed by all and that the work done by the Ottery Trail Group should be supported. This support was made public in 2016 and 2017 when Ottery Town Council praised the Otter Trail Group at its meeting and reiterated its support for the creation of a cycleway “recognising the considerable benefits such as sustainable transport, people’s health, and a boost to the local economy”

Josefina Gori, an organiser of cycling events in Ottery and Chairman of the King & Queen of the Mountain steering group firmly believes in the need for this cycleway to become a reality: “the beauty of this area acts as a magnet for those who enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s walking, cycling or horse riding. With the proliferation of so many wonderful cafes in Ottery, there is an opportunity to attract these visitors, not only because of the events taking place in town, but also to keep them coming back.

“Only COVID temporarily put a halt to our enthusiasm, however our support to the Ottery Trail Group is still as strong as ever and we are bringing back two of our most popular events this year, the Primary School Junior Hill Climb on April 28 and the Chineway Challenge, under the organisation of The East Devon Cycle Club, on Sunday November 5 so there’s plenty of time to get those legs back into shape and don’t forget to cheer our future champions on the 28.”