Devon County Council win tourism award
Devon County Council has received a sustainable tourism award from the Dartmoor National Park Authority.
As part of the launch of the authority’s revised National Park Management plan, a number of presentations were made to mark contributions to the previous plan.
Devon County Council was recognised for its support and promotion of sustainable tourism including the Haytor Hoppa, The Tour of Britain and cycling links in and around the National Park.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Management, received a certificate on behalf of the County Council from TV and radio presenter Judi Spiers.
Councillor Hughes said: “It’s marvellous for Devon County Council to receive this recognition. We’re proud to be playing our part in making Dartmoor more accessible and enabling people to explore the National Park using sustainable transport. The Tour of Britain has demonstrated that Devon is a premier destination for cycling tourism, and it has highlighted to a worldwide audience the beauty of Dartmoor National Park and what it has to offer.”
Bill Hitchins, Chairman of Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: “Dartmoor National Park Authority is pleased to present this award to Devon County Council for its contribution to the previous Dartmoor National Park Management Plan. We now look to the future, and in the face of continued financial uncertainty, to working with all our partners and building upon the achievements of our past. ‘Your Dartmoor’ the revised National Park Management Plan is for all who live, work and play in this special place so that we may now look forward and work together to ensure a bright future for Dartmoor.”
The Haytor Hoppa, which is funded by Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon County Council, and Natural England, has operated successfully since 2009. The seasonal bus service covers the eastern side of Dartmoor on a circular route starting and finishing in Newton Abbot via Bovey Tracey.
The Tour of Britain, hosted by Devon County Council, has taken the route of the Devon Stage across Dartmoor over the past four years. A record 250,000 people turned out to watch the Devon Stage in 2013 which made history by providing the first summit finish in the modern era of the race.
The Granite and Gears project, which was awarded £4.4 million funding from The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Cycling Ambition fund in August 2013, aims to develop a network of multi-use trails to open up access to the moor, as well as creating “cycling hub” sites at Princetown and Moretonhampstead to provide dedicated facilities for visitors.
