Channel Programme Cycle project approved with several SW partners

A number of partners in the South West region have been working with Brittany Regional Council with the aim of developing a range of cycling routes that extend either side of the Channel. The project has taken around 2 years to develop and has very recently received approval from the Interreg Cross Border Channel Programme.

The total budget for the project amounts to €8.6 million, with €3.6 million being shared across the UK partners.

Devon County Council is leading the English side of the partnership which includes Cornwall, Plymouth, Dorset and Poole Councils, South West Tourism and Sustrans, working with Brittany Regional Council as the overall lead partner, along with Normandy Regional Council and 11 Conseil Regionales in developing the cross Channel project.

The French partners are discussing ideas with ferry companies to increase the number of people using ferries for cycling holidays, and free carriage of bicycles is being investigated. Other measures included as part of the cross channel cycling programme are, learning from each other's experience, co-ordinated signing and mapping of recommended routes.