Ramblers have gone the distance in planning a walking festival for Sidmouth – and all civic leaders have had to do is rubber stamp it.
What began as a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ promotion turned into a week-long celebration of strolling, which has been pencilled in for next September.
Town councillors said it was a ‘natural’ project for the Parishes Together Fund, which towns and villages team up to apply for.
Councillor John Dyson said: “Norma Self mentioned a walking festival at the Parish Paths Partnership meeting in June.
“I said, ‘That’s a good idea – you organise it’ – and she has done just that.
“I think it’s a natural for this scheme.”
Provisional plans are for three or four walks a day to areas such as Ottery and Branscombe, and it is hoped the councils there will support it.
The festival has been costed at ‘£1,200 at the most’, and if that is shared between different parishes, Sidmouth’s fee could be just £700.
Cllr David Barratt said: “I support everything Cllr Dyson said. It’s absolutely the type of scheme that would work.”
“It’s value for money and will boost tourism – what more could you ask for?” added Cllr Chris Wale.
More information on the festival, which could become a biennial event, is expected in the next few weeks.
Members backed plans to have it shortlisted as a project for the Parishes Together Fund.
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