CYCLISTS have been left pedal deep in water after using a newly opened cycle path along the Exe estuary.
The new Turf Locks to Powderham cycle track and footpath has been submerged in up to eight inches of flood water in recent days.
The flooding had been foreseen by cyclists before the route along side the main railway line was installed, according to veteran biker Mike Bowden.
Mr Bowden of Wrefords Road, Cowley Bridge, St David's, said: "When it was said that the track would be built at the bottom of the bank I pointed out the serious flooding there and was backed up by others.
"We were assured it would be catered for.
"Raising the flooded parts would have been cheap done during construction. Now it would be expensive – and will probably be "too expensive".
"The proposed solution is to have steps up the banks at various places so that cyclists can carry their bikes up and down them to by-pass flooded sections.
"The top path is a footpath which only walkers are allowed on. It is also the fact that RSPB don't want lots of movement on the bank top because of disturbance to birds in a such an important area.
"I have seen higher flood levels there than those when it flooded recently, so the track should have been 12 inches higher in the low parts - probably about two per cent of the whole stretch.
"We cyclists know from experience of other trails that the very nice Exe Estuary route will draw large volumes of users."
A spokesman for Devon County Council said:"The area is constrained by its location and parts of the trail are built on a flood plain so some flooding is to be expected when there is heavy rain coupled with high tides. We appreciate that this can be frustrating for cyclists but hopefully it won't discourage them from using the trail."
↧
