'Oven-ready' schemes to improve local infrastructure need national funding

As children return to school, Covid still seems to be largely under control in Devon. Outbreaks have included a group of cases in Seaton and Axminster which - like the widely publicised episode in Plymouth - involved holidaymakers returning from overseas.

Although the national track and trace system remains weak, I have been assured as county councillor for Seaton and Colyton that our own Public Health team are monitoring the Axe Valley cases. These incidents are a reminder to everyone that we should maintain the social distancing, mask wearing and handwashing which have kept us safe.

During July and August we've seen unprecedented numbers of visitors, and this could be continued next year and beyond. It's the right moment to take stock of our local economy, which is so dependent on tourism. So it's good to see Seaton Town Council's proposals to make the town 'coach-friendly' and support town-centre businesses sprucing up their properties.

I've been doing my bit as county councillor to push forward progress on the Stop Line Way cycle and walking route. The County has money in its budget for purchase of the land needed for the remaining section in the Wetlands and its completion in the next financial year. I am frustrated that it has taken so long to agree the purchase with the landowner. Unless there is a speedy conclusion, the council should return to the Compulsory Purchase Order route which was agreed 18 months ago.

It's even more frustrating to me that the route between Coyford and Kilmington has now been put on the back burner as the government funding is insufficient for the County to support rural cycle routes. This scheme was agreed when national funding was more generous but has lost out because of the decade of austerity in local government.

This saga is matched by the Seaton Seafront Enhancement Scheme, under development since 2013 and with planning permission since 2017, and approved by three public consultations. It would be a huge boost for the town, and the town has found the funding (including support from my Locality Fund) for a limited first phase. But with the local government funding crisis it's not easy to see where the rest of the money will come from.

As with Public Health, with these schemes local councils offer solutions which are 'oven ready', as Boris Johnson likes to say. So why the downer on local government? Even modest investment could make such a difference to areas like ours.