Have your say on a masterplan for the Clyst Valley Regional Park

Have your say on a masterplan for the Clyst Valley Regional Park

A public consultation on proposals for new, public, green space around the Clyst Valley is taking place from Monday 9^th November 2020 until 12 noon on Thursday 7^th January 2021. The survey has been extended until January to allow for the national coronavirus restrictions currently in force.

The Clyst Valley is on the doorstep of a rapidly growing population to the east of Exeter. To make sure that local people can explore and enjoy the East Devon countryside, connecting with nature for their health and wellbeing, the Clyst Valley Regional Park masterplan sets out ideas on how it can be improved in years to come. This plan will provide a basis to seek funding for these improvements.

Some parts of the Clyst Valley are well known, such as National Trust Killerton. Other areas are not currently accessible to the public. The masterplan proposes to restore nature and historic buildings, create trails, tackle climate change and flooding.

Take the survey online to have your say by visiting eastdevon.gov.uk/clystvalleypark. For queries about the masterplan, email sbates@eastdevon.gov.uk

Councillor Paul Arnott, Leader of East Devon District Council, said:

This exciting project is central to East Devon's commitment to conserving beautiful areas not protected by formal status as well as encouraging the return of the bio-diversity the world is in desperate need of in the 2020s. I would encourage everyone to take part in this consultation.

Councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment said:

Although the concept of the Clyst Valley Regional Park was agreed through the East Devon Local Plan in 2016 (Strategy 10), this consultation proposes many exciting and creative additions to help provide easier access for people to enjoy this wonderful countryside area on Exeter’s doorstep. It will also improve and enhance the biodiversity and habitat, to protect this special area for the long term.

Therefore, it is vital that you tell us how you would like to see this valuable “green space blueprint” develop and grow. I would like all residents and businesses to help us define the priorities of the Park, as it takes shape over the coming years. 

Some of the ideas that are suggested in the Clyst Valley Regional Park masterplan are:

• Clyst Valley Trail linking the Exe Estuary Trail to the Exe Valley Way
• Extension to Cranbrook Country Park
• Land-based learning centre and café at Broadclyst Community Farm
• A new cycle trail linking Cranbrook to Exeter along a quiet route
• Renaturalising the River Clyst between Clyst Honiton and Cranbrook
• A major increase in trees through both planting and natural regeneration
• A new visitor hub at Ashclyst Farm and cycle/pedestrian links into the Forest from Cranbrook, Broadclyst and Killerton

A stakeholder consultation took place last year. As part of this, local groups and organisations were asked to help shape the draft masterplan. Now the public are being asked to share their views on the masterplan.