Latest News: Nov 2022
Latest News: June 2021
Final version of the Ivybridge Street Design Strategy is now available.
PL:21 have worked closely with Sustrans to better understand the needs and options for the community to help encourage more active travel in and around Ivybridge. This is a core area for Pl:21 and we will be continuing to work with relevant bodies to try and implement as many of the recommendations found within the report. We have already made good progress and are actively looking to support further studies for neighboring areas to join up communities.
The report can be view by clicking here.
PL:21 have worked closely with Sustrans to better understand the needs and options for the community to help encourage more active travel in and around Ivybridge. This is a core area for Pl:21 and we will be continuing to work with relevant bodies to try and implement as many of the recommendations found within the report. We have already made good progress and are actively looking to support further studies for neighboring areas to join up communities.
The report can be view by clicking here.
Latest News: March 2021
Newly installed 'close pass' signs now visible through the town.
Our project to remind motorists to share the road started back in 2018 and continues today. It's great to see these signs in place to keep the message alive. PL:21 would like to thank Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County Council Highways Department, and Ivybridge Town Council for their support with this campaign
We hope to keep pushing for improved infrastructure and planning decisions that aim to encourage cycling/pedestrians/horse riders. With the right space, more people will be encouraged to ditch cars when they can and increase the levels of 'Active Travel' in and around Ivybridge.
Our project to remind motorists to share the road started back in 2018 and continues today. It's great to see these signs in place to keep the message alive. PL:21 would like to thank Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon County Council Highways Department, and Ivybridge Town Council for their support with this campaign
We hope to keep pushing for improved infrastructure and planning decisions that aim to encourage cycling/pedestrians/horse riders. With the right space, more people will be encouraged to ditch cars when they can and increase the levels of 'Active Travel' in and around Ivybridge.
Tree Planting
PL:21 were pleased to support Ivybridge Town Council with the tree planting at Filham Park last week. From l-r; Mike and Caroline Lucas (Secretary); John Pope (Treasurer) and Graham Wilson (Chair). A special place that provides a real benefit for so many in Ivybridge. Great to be involved in supporting the long-term growth of future trees.
PL:21 were pleased to support Ivybridge Town Council with the tree planting at Filham Park last week. From l-r; Mike and Caroline Lucas (Secretary); John Pope (Treasurer) and Graham Wilson (Chair). A special place that provides a real benefit for so many in Ivybridge. Great to be involved in supporting the long-term growth of future trees.
PL:21 recently held our AGM on the 3rd of March. The minutes of the meeting are available here.
There was no change to the current positions held by members, however, Secretary Caroline Lucas was nominated to join the other members to become the fifth Trustees, which she accepted.
The meeting was preceded by an open Public Meeting where Jason Luff, newly appointed Cycling Development Officer for our area by Cycling UK talked about how the Big Bike Revival can support our area https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival . The presentation was excellent and provoked plenty of discussion on initiatives in our area.
There was no change to the current positions held by members, however, Secretary Caroline Lucas was nominated to join the other members to become the fifth Trustees, which she accepted.
The meeting was preceded by an open Public Meeting where Jason Luff, newly appointed Cycling Development Officer for our area by Cycling UK talked about how the Big Bike Revival can support our area https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival . The presentation was excellent and provoked plenty of discussion on initiatives in our area.
Latest News: February 2021
Public Meeting 24th February
We would like to invite all our supporters to join us for a Public Meeting on the 24th of February for all the latest Pl:21 news. We shall kick the meeting off with a presentation from Jason Luff, newly appointed Cycling Development Officer for our area by Cycling UK. He will be talking about how the Big Bike Revival can support our area https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival (more below).
Timings:
1930- Welcome and introductions
1940- Talk from Jason Luff
2000- Update on PL:21 activities
-Ongoing/Active
-Future
Please come along and engage with your ideas and enthusiasm to be a force for good in the community,
If you would like to join the meeting please email us for the link
We would like to invite all our supporters to join us for a Public Meeting on the 24th of February for all the latest Pl:21 news. We shall kick the meeting off with a presentation from Jason Luff, newly appointed Cycling Development Officer for our area by Cycling UK. He will be talking about how the Big Bike Revival can support our area https://www.cyclinguk.org/bigbikerevival (more below).
Timings:
1930- Welcome and introductions
1940- Talk from Jason Luff
2000- Update on PL:21 activities
-Ongoing/Active
-Future
Please come along and engage with your ideas and enthusiasm to be a force for good in the community,
If you would like to join the meeting please email us for the link
Big Bike Revival Comes to Ivybridge
We are delighted that we have helped to secure funds from the Dept of Transport for Ivybridge.
The Big Bike Revival is part of a drive, by Cycling UK, to get even more people out on two wheels and enjoying cycling. The aim is to encourage more people to look at bicycles as a real alternative to vehicles, but also as a way of enjoying leisure time and keeping fit and healthy. Dr Bike sessions are a part of this, designed to get old bikes back on the road (or trails), giving the rider peace of mind that their bike is safe to do so. Run by a fully qualified mechanic, Dr Bike sessions are 30 minutes each and involve the mechanic giving each bike a thorough check, then carrying out any necessary minor repairs. These could include new cables, new brake pads (dependent on brake type), or new inner tubes. These services are free of charge for the bike owner. For more time-consuming work, the owner will be directed to a local workshop that can carry out these larger jobs (at the owner's cost).
Dates for the workshops are provisional for now and are being held in two locations. Workshops in the Leisure Centre/Watermark car park are planned for February 27th, March 13th, and March 27th. Workshops at CJ Cycle Services, on Clare Street/Keaton Road, are planned for February 24th, March 10th, and March 24th. To book one of the appointment only, 30-minute slots, at any of the workshops, please contact Chris, at CJ Cycle Services, on 07843 054766. Chris has experience of working on everything, from custom-built adaptive trikes to modern e-bikes, and will be happy to get your bike back up and running safely.
Our neighbours in the Yealm Catchment are looking to start a large project to help develop a more coherent 'Wildlife Corridor' along the Yealm River with the following objectives:
To support this Pl:21 will continue to take measurements and monitoring the Erme through Ivybridge supporting the Westcountry Rivers Trust Citizen Science Investigation.
Our neighbours in the Yealm Catchment are looking to start a large project to help develop a more coherent 'Wildlife Corridor' along the Yealm River with the following objectives:
- To link fragmented woodland and other habitats such as diverse grasslands along the course of the River Yealm from coastal estuary to moorland source.
- To restore these habitats were necessary, create larger genetic pools and increase biodiversity along the course of the River Yealm. (“Biodiversity” here includes plants, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds and mammals).
To support this Pl:21 will continue to take measurements and monitoring the Erme through Ivybridge supporting the Westcountry Rivers Trust Citizen Science Investigation.
Latest News : January 2021
Following an award by Devon County Council under the Government’s temporary active travel scheme, we are pleased that a quiet route to make it easier for walking and cycling is to be signed for the east side of Ivybridge. The route starts from the town centre and follows Filham Moor Lane and Godwell Lane to the rugby club. This will enable walkers and cyclists to follow quiet and more attractive lanes that are partly traffic-free and avoid Exeter Road. These lanes connect numerous houses in the locality with the town centre. The town council has been supported by PL:21 Transition Town, Sustrans, the Royal British Legion, South Hams District Council and Devon County Council.
Following our “Close Pass” campaign in 2018 when we asked motorists to give 1.5 metres width overtaking pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders, we are delighted to announce support from the Police and Devon County Council for this campaign. Four signs containing both their logos will be erected in known hot spots along Exeter Road and Western Road. By giving extra space with overtaking, motorists will be giving a significant contribution to the safety of vulnerable road users and we thank the Police and Highways Authority for allowing this publicity. We recently secured additional funding from Transition Network to help support the delivery of this project.
We are delighted with the support of Ivybridge Town Council whose policies are to support active travel. We wish to make a special mention of town clerk, Lesley Hughes who is retiring this month for her considerable energy and guidance on this work. The signage should appear towards the end of January
Three members of PL:21 (John Pope, Caroline Lucas, and Tim Poate) have all started doing monthly river surveys as part of Westcountry Rivers Trust Citizen Science project. The aim of the scheme is to engage with communities to build knowledge and help foster future custodians to improve our waterways:
Collecting regular water quality samples not only produces good data, which we can use to identify areas of concern, but also enables the citizen scientist to get to know their river, helping to identify positive and negative changes and influencing action where needed
By undertaking regular surveys we shall develop an ongoing dataset that we hope will allow us to further targets aspects of the Erme where changes can be made to improve the ecological status of the river and benefit all those who rely on it.
If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved please email PL:21.
Collecting regular water quality samples not only produces good data, which we can use to identify areas of concern, but also enables the citizen scientist to get to know their river, helping to identify positive and negative changes and influencing action where needed
By undertaking regular surveys we shall develop an ongoing dataset that we hope will allow us to further targets aspects of the Erme where changes can be made to improve the ecological status of the river and benefit all those who rely on it.
If you are interested in finding out more or getting involved please email PL:21.
Recent Activity:
Lee Mill Consultation
PL:21 made a submission as part of the consultation to the proposed changes to the Lee Mill slip-road, which, it is hoped, will reduce traffic through the village and improve access to the industrial estate. PL:21 are broadly supportive of the works, however, want to ensure the existing walking/cycle route is prioritised and further environmental improvements are made to the area including the River Yealm, as part of the works.
Aldi Development
PL:21 continues to work with ITC and SHDC to explore the wider impacts and possible benefits that can be gained from the planned development in the town centre. We are committed to ensuring open access to the green/blue river corridor and are working to explore ways this space can be improved for the community.
New Team Member
Caroline Lucas has recently volunteered to join the PL:21 team as Secretary. Caroline is an Ivybridge resident who enjoys walking locally and is passionate about the environment and reducing waste. Recently retired Caroline has started doing monitoring of the River Erme in Longtimber Woods as part of our citizen science endeavors. Welcome, Caroline and thank you for your enthusiasm!
Lee Mill Consultation
PL:21 made a submission as part of the consultation to the proposed changes to the Lee Mill slip-road, which, it is hoped, will reduce traffic through the village and improve access to the industrial estate. PL:21 are broadly supportive of the works, however, want to ensure the existing walking/cycle route is prioritised and further environmental improvements are made to the area including the River Yealm, as part of the works.
Aldi Development
PL:21 continues to work with ITC and SHDC to explore the wider impacts and possible benefits that can be gained from the planned development in the town centre. We are committed to ensuring open access to the green/blue river corridor and are working to explore ways this space can be improved for the community.
New Team Member
Caroline Lucas has recently volunteered to join the PL:21 team as Secretary. Caroline is an Ivybridge resident who enjoys walking locally and is passionate about the environment and reducing waste. Recently retired Caroline has started doing monitoring of the River Erme in Longtimber Woods as part of our citizen science endeavors. Welcome, Caroline and thank you for your enthusiasm!
April 2020: Active Travel Report Published
Our world is currently turned upside down because of coronavirus but our NHS tells us that we should go out once a day for walking, cycling or running. It is timely therefore that Sustrans has completed its Active Travel reports and sent them to our funders, Highways England, Devon CC and South Hams District Council. Never before since the motor car was invented has active travel been given such importance.
You can view the report here.
From Plympton to South Brent, Sustrans tells us how our paths and cycleways can be brought to life so that we want to use them. Complying with the local plan, they show us more than this. Radical proposals include a new junction at the end of Western Road, a new town square and it future proofs our train station against unwarranted development.
People have had their say at drop-in events held by Sustrans, the Town Council and Ivybridge Futures Fair. We are now about to embark how to achieve capital funding. Wish us luck.
A Summary of 2019: Report from the Chair to AGM
We are living in a World where land is not just about food production but a complete ecosystem of activities including building homes, transport networks, soil fertility, biomass, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and maintaining the balance with the natural world.
With climate change, it feels that we must all recognise the importance of the natural world. It is our friend to help feed us and give us power to keep us warm. It will be our foe if we take too much. Like in business, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
These are some of our events during 2019.
Our dominant scheme has been where we secured funding and commissioned Sustrans to carry out a Street Design Project. We are working alongside Highways England and Ivybridge Town Council for schemes to improve walking and cycling. This should be published very shortly.
We have been invited to join Ivybridge Town Council Climate Emergency Focus Group and the joint plans are for a series of events throughout 2020 to encourage local residents to become engaged with climate change. Suggestions so far include evening cafes, farm walks, wildlife walks, community cycle events, a puppet show, reuse and repair cafe
These are some recent and current events:
Two river cleans
Care for wildlife planters at Ivybridge train station
Assisting with tree planting and wildlife projects underway Continuing to promote plastic free status
Assisting town council with a proposal to build a new footbridge over the River Erme
Responding to consultations and planning applications for various major projects within our PL21 area
Community cycle rides
September 2019: Active Travel Study
We are thrilled with the responses so far with the Active Travel Study being carried out by Sustrans on our behalf. There have been three drop-in workshops where there have been numerous responses about what needs to be done to make our streets safer for walking and cycling in and around Ivybridge.
Much we already knew but there is so much we did not know. We have sympathy with wheelchair users who have to use the road to go to Endsleigh from the town centre as there is no suitable path. This is not right. Students at the college say too many motorists travel too fast and they do not feel safe beside the B3213.
We are opposing the planning application for 198 new homes by Wainholmes at Rutt Lane because of bad traffic design. This is the reference: apps.southhams.gov.uk/PlanningSearchMVC/Home/Details/192239
We hope that the study will be published in December
A Summary of 2018
It appears that we are starting an era where people are becoming more aware of our environment and becoming more health conscious. These are some of some of our events during the year:
> Two river cleans in January and September
> Evening recycling sessions with cubs and brownies
> Developing our single use plastics programme with children and businesses
> Big Walk with residents of Hannah's to the Donkey Sanctuary
> Start our Close Pass Campaign
> Work with Sustrans for community bike rides
> Start our programme for Active Travel
> Care for our planters at Ivybridge Train Station
> Care for wildlife areas at the bottom of Cole Lane
> Respond to railway consultations to bring more trains to Ivybridge
January 2019
PL:21 was delighted to be included in the Tesco Bags of Help scheme in September to October 18, which has resulted in the organisation being awarded £1000 towards our work in Ivybridge and environs. The money is to be used to support the development of the wildlife areas our volunteers look after in the town, to pay for community events and resources to raise awareness of environmental issues.
October 2018
The group continues to support the efforts of Plastic Free Ivybridge and to look for ways to make our roads safer, to encourage more cycling.
April 2018
The PL:21 Committee met on the 22nd March in The Watermark and caught up on all the planned events that are coming up. There was a Plastic Free Ivybridge stand at the Watermarks 10th Birthday event on Saturday 7th April and various new bits of unused land at the bottom of Cole Lane are due to be turned into wildlife areas.
January 2018
We started our New Year with Wassailing in Cornwood organised by Gill Clegg and were joined by Dartmoor Border Morris Dancers. Following our campaign to make Ivybridge roads safe for all vulnerable road users including cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users, we were invited to meet the Principal of Ivybridge Community College last month and this followed by attending a mixed workshop of staff and students. We have supported Sustrans with its bid to Highways England to build new cycle routes connecting Ashburton via Ivybridge into Plymouth. Details of this study may be found at cyclesouthdartmoor.org.uk/news/
