The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership has today announced its support for the South Devon Link Road scheme. A letter has been sent to Department of Transport ministers Norman Baker and Philip Hammond SoS, with other copies to Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise, John Penrose, Minister for Tourism and Heritage and Chris Grayling Minister for Employment.
 
The road, linking Newton Abbot to Torquay with a dual carriageway, is one of 45 road building schemes competing for a share of government funding. A new case for the road will be made to the Department of Transport at the beginning of September with a decision expected in December.
 
It outlines the significant economic, social and environmental gains that the scheme will help deliver, including the new sustainable transport strategy, which will see improvements in the bus, cycle and train network with new connections across the area.
 
Jeremy Filmer Bennett, Chair of the Partnership's steering committee said: " We are very pleased to be able to support the South Devon Link Road scheme. This has been a long time in discussions, yet it is absolutely clear that it is essential for the economic development of Torbay, and for the growth of the economy across the entire partnership area.
 
“It is a key arterial link that has stymied commercial and business enterprise, creating congestion and diminishing the appeal of Torbay to inward investment.
 
“The new road scheme is fundamental to the region's economic wellbeing. It will create jobs, enhance the lives of residents, businesses and communities along the route and provide the catalyst for many other opportunities and benefits.
 
“Proper infrastructure and a robust transport network is key to our economic development. Without reliable and effective transport routes, our businesses cannot compete properly: their suppliers are affected, just like their workforce. We cannot expand and reach wider markets in this current state.
 
“Whilst the partnership is working with many business organizations to help Torbay, there’s no getting away from the fact that it is vital part of our physical infrastructure.  We must be able to depend on it, so the partnership is very clear that this scheme deserves government backing and financial support. We are therefore very happy to be able to lend our support to the scheme and we wish it every success. "
 
The road scheme has recently been reviewed; small changes have been made to make the scheme more affordable and reduce the overall costs to £110m, from its original cost of £121m. The changes being proposed will be undertaken at a later date, enabling the two authorities to bring benefits to the area, and deliver the new components as required.
 
More information on the scheme and the work of the partnership can be found on the following sites:  www.heartofswlep.co.uk and www.southdevonlinkroad.co.uk