Devon County Council may have to rely on compulsory purchase orders to successfully introduce new Teignbridge cycle routes.

The authority is keen to improve conditions for walkers and cyclists and has earmarked £475,000 for the job. But some landowners on whose properties the new tracks are planned have yet to be won over and negotiations alone might not provide the desired outcome. Speaking to Teignbridge Overview and scrutiny commitee on tuesday, Graham Heath, of the county council, said that plans for a new Teign Estuary route and another linking Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead were progressing well and could be completed within five years. But Cllr David Weekes asked if landowners along the estuary might have to be forced to hand over their land. 'It's a bit early to comment,' replied Mr Heath. 'We hope not and landowners have the right to be consulted.' Bovey Tracey councillor Fearnley Holmes said that people living in Lustleigh were 'very concerned' about the Wray and Bovey Valley plans and that four landowners had been told to expect compulsory purchase orders. 'Really, this is not consultation to my mind,' he said. Cllr Holmes also said that Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, was for the use of townsfolk and should not be opened up for the new track. 'This land is owned by the people of Bovey,' he said. Mr Heath acknowledged that planning applications for the route submitted by the county last year had been turned down and that there were two options now open to them. One was to appeal and the other to re-submit the plans with the reasons for refusal taken into account. 'No decision has been made at this point,' he said, although he thought re-submission was likely. Plans are also progressing for a cycle route to link Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot and Cllr Mike Walters wanted to know if that would mean widening pavements, thereby worsening traffic congestion. Mr Heath said an answer was 'premature' and added: 'How it all fits together still needs a lot of thought.' Cllr Walters said the 'big message' was to improve public consultation. 'It is not to the fore in your work,' he told Mr Heath.